Management of Polyarthritis Affecting Sea Turtles at Kélonia, the Reunion Island Sea Turtle Observatory (2013–17)

Abstract All sea turtlespecies are listed on the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature due to multiple threats. Among these, disease is a frequent cause of stranded sea turtlesencountered in rehabilitation centers. Since 2013, we found joint swellingin 13 sea turtlesbelonging to all four sea turtlespecies submitted to the Kelonia Sea TurtleObservatory of Reunion Island, France. Affected sea turtlespresented with lameness, anorexia, and lethargy. Polyarthritiswas radiographically confirmed and lesions were characterized by progressive osteolysisof bones surrounding joints. Anterior flipperswere affected in all cases and posterior flipperswere also involved in some cases. We isolated several bacterial agents from blood and synovial fluid. We attempted a collective treatment with injectable florfenicol, based on sensitivity results, which was continued for 4 wk and then as needed based on radiographic evolution of the lesions. Radiographic stabilization of the lesions ...