Pathological changes by Hapalotrema postorchis Rao 1976 (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) in a green turtle Chelonia mydas Linnaeus 1758 (Testudines, Cheloniidae) from Brazil

Abstract

This note reports the occurrence of Hapalotrema postorchis Rao 1976 collected from an aortic aneurysm in a green turtle (Chelonia mydas Linnaeus 1758) found on the coast of Brazil. Besides the vascular lesion, granulomatous reactions with foreign - body giant cells were found surrounding the parasite eggs in the heart, intestines, liver, pancreas, spleen, brain and kidneys. This paper presents the first report of H. postorchis and accompanying lesions in a green sea turtle from the western South Atlantic Ocean.