Efficacy of praziquantel in the treatment of green sea turtles with spontaneous infection of cardiovascular flukes.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of praziquantel as a treatment for cardiovascular flukes in turtles.

Procedure: Six green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) spontaneously infected with cardiovascular flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) were treated orally with praziquantel, and necropsied 3 or 7 days later to look for flukes in the heart and major blood vessels. Six similar animals were maintained as untreated controls.

Results: Absence of flukes in treated, but not control turtles, indicated that a one day course of treatment at a dose rate of 3 x 50 mg/kg body weight is effective.

Conclusion: This result should be of value for preventing disease in wild caught green turtles introduced into farms or aquaria.