We report a series of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) on the southern coast of Brazil. During 13-month period, seven animals were recovered on the coastal beach and sent to a rehabilitation center, dying after a period of captivity up to 27 days. Granulomatous nodules in the lung, with the presence of hyaline and septate hyphae, were found in all. Invasive aspergillosis was confirmed by real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Our study is the first to describe Aspergillus sp. infection in green turtles. Prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the impact of such severe fungal diseases on sea turtles.
Keywords: Aspergillus sp; aspergillosis; free-ranging animals; fungal infection; reptiles; turtles.
This is the first report of a series of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis infections in green sea turtles on the southern coast of Brazil. Future prospective studies are necessary in southern Brazil and other regions to evaluate the impact of such severe fungal diseases on sea turtles.
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.