Mandi

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

(ST0019)

Age Class	Juvenile
Gender	Male
Date Stranded	July 20, 2000
Location of Stranding	Manasota Key, Florida
Date of Arrival	July 20, 2000
Number of Days of Care	15

Final Disposition

Died

This turtle stranded in the surf, was very lethargic, unable to move its flippers. It could only move its head from side to side. Turtle was suspected of having the same intestinal disease that several other loggerheads had been diagnosed with. This turtle was treated with fluids, antibiotics, and steroids and was initially responding to treatment but died during the night of 5 August. Necropsy revealed the same intestinal disease plus a severe infestation of several different parasites. It appeared that the intestinal disease was responding to the treatment. On necropsy it was determined that this turtle was a maturing male.

Lessons: The combination of fluids, antibiotics and steroids seems to be the appropriate treatment for this intestinal disease.