Clinical pathology and health reference values for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) in the Gulf of Ulloa, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Anthropogenic impact and environmental threats can cause diseases to marine turtles and in severe cases death, contributing to population decline worldwide. The Gulf of Ulloa (GU) represents an important foraging habitat for loggerhead sea turtles and olive ridley turtles; it is also considered a highly productive area for fisheries and is known for the mortality of marine turtles, which has been associated to bycatch. However, there is little information in the area regarding the health status of marine turtles; thus, the aims of this study were to (1) assess the health of marine turtles via physical examination, (2) generate their vital signs, (3) determine their hematological values, and (4) describe blood cell characteristics and its relationship with functional damage which can affect the organism’s systems. Clinical examinations were performed; complete blood count, clinical biochemistry, and clinicopathological evaluations were made, and their relationships with the functioning of the organism’s systems were described. With the sequential integration of medical and clinicopathological analysis, 56 loggerhead sea turtles and 16 olive ridley turtles from the GU were diagnosed as healthy. These pathological analyses are essential to evaluate marine turtles’ health, as well as to evaluate the health status of free-ranging populations, and have important applications for treatment and rehabilitation of sick and injured marine turtles. The baseline generated in this research provides information that can be taken as a reference for future research and used to generate management plans and conservation strategies for the organisms and for the ecosystem, together with the authorities.