Fibropapillomatosis dynamics in green sea turtles Chelonia mydas over 15 years of monitoring in Akumal Bay, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor disease that affects all sea turtle species but is mainly seen in green turtles Chelonia mydas. The pathology of FP has been described extensively, but its dynamics in populations over time have been less studied. We analyzed the dynamics of FP in a population of green turtles in Akumal Bay on the central coast of the Mexican Caribbean.

A subpopulation of green turtle suprabasal epidermal cells are Langerin+ and migrate under in vitro stimulation of the chemokine CCL21.

Dendritic cells form the link between the innate and adaptative immune response, particularly on mucosal and epidermal surfaces. The Langerhans, an epidermal dendritic cell subpopulation, play a key role in the skin immune response across several species. Scarse immune cell subpopulations, including Langerhans-like cells, have been identified in endangered green turtles thereby complicating the understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases such as fibropapillomatosis, which induces skin tumours in this species worldwide.

Baseline urinalysis results in 32 healthy Antillean manatees ().

Objective: To describe results of analysis of free-catch urine samples collected from Antillean manatees () under human care in the Caribbean.

Animals: 32 Antillean manatees in 5 Caribbean oceanaria and rescue centers.

Procedures: Urine samples were obtained by opportunistic free catch during physical examination or through the use of operant conditioning procedures.