Anatomopathological Characterization of the Main Ocular Lesions in Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) Along the Northern Coast of Bahia, Brazil.

Fibropapillomatosis and spirorchidiasis are prevalent ocular diseases in stranded green turtles.

This necropsy study examined ophthalmic and adnexal diseases in 39 stranded green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Bahia, Brazil, analyzing 158 visual system samples. Nearly 70% of samples demonstrated pathological changes, with bilateral involvement predominating. Fibropapillomatosis was the most prevalent finding (58.9%), followed by spirorchidiasis (46.8%). Additional lesions included mucopurulent conjunctivitis, ulcerative keratitis, corneal perforation, panophthalmitis, phthisis bulbi, eyelid scarring, and salt gland lithiasis. The study emphasizes the clinical significance of ocular diseases in sea turtle conservation, particularly given the visual system's critical role in feeding and migration behaviors. These findings provide important baseline data for understanding disease prevalence in stranded populations and supporting development of preventive and therapeutic interventions for sea turtle management and species preservation programs.

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