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

Aust Vet J. 1997 Jun;75(6):405-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1997.tb14341.x.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Antiplatyhelmintic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiplatyhelmintic Agents / standards
  • Antiplatyhelmintic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Blood Vessels / parasitology
  • Body Weight / physiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / prevention & control
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / veterinary*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Heart / parasitology
  • Praziquantel / administration & dosage
  • Praziquantel / standards
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use*
  • Trematoda / isolation & purification
  • Trematode Infections / drug therapy
  • Trematode Infections / parasitology
  • Trematode Infections / veterinary*
  • Turtles / parasitology*

Substances

  • Antiplatyhelmintic Agents
  • Praziquantel
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase