Abstract

Many projects have been developed in the last years for the conservation of sea turtles. Young green turtles (Chelonia mydas) often nest on the Brazilian coast. Because they nest in beaches along the coastline and islands, green turtles are susceptible to fishing and accidental ingestion of anthropogenic debris. Early detection of ingested debris is crucial for the survival of rescued sea animals. Ultrasound (US) has emerged as a viable imaging technique for visceral examination in veterinary medicine. This study aimed to establish the viability of US examination of coelomic viscera through the plastron in stranded green turtles. Previous studies have suggested the left and right cervicobrachial, left and right axillary, left pre-femoral, and right post-femoral areas as the only viable approaches for US examination, but the acoustic windows available for imaging of coelomic structures are limited. Eleven young green turtles rescued by the GREMAR Institute were examined. Turtles were placed in the dorsal decubitus position during US examination, which did not require anesthesia. The following organs were evaluated: heart, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, colon, liver, gallbladder, kidneys, bladder, and spleen (in case of splenomegaly). Ultrasound imaging through the plastron is a viable approach for detecting ingested artificial debris, which represents one of the leading causes of death among sea turtles.

Key words: Keywords: Green turtles; Chelonia mydas; Plastron; Ultrasound.