Practical Approaches for Studying Sea Turtle Health and Disease
405
can be obtained. The results of this process can also identify major questions for
future research, including what types of diagnostic tests need to be developed to
improve diagnostic capabilities.
15.4 COSTS–BENEFITS
In an ideal world, one would want to do the most thorough evaluation of every
available animal and completely work up every necropsy or illness case. The reality
is that resources (money, equipment, personnel, and, most important, time) are
limited. Therefore, decisions must be made on the basis of time, money, and materials
— how to get the most information using the resources that are available. The level
of investigation often mirrors the extent of the problem. Historically, however, causes
of morbidity and mortality in sea turtles have not been perceived as being as
important as other aspects of their population biology. Basic research into sea turtle
pathophysiology and improving disease diagnosis has often received low priority.
When available, more resources are invested in major epidemics versus individuals
that are sporadically found as stranded animals. However, often these resources are
mobilized too late, and lack of sustained investment in pathologic evaluations of
sporadic cases and strandings may represent lost opportunities to gather information
and perspective about background disease problems.
Questions to consider that are relevant to cost–benefit decisions in developing
health assessment programs and conducting diagnostic investigations include the
following:
1. Is the health problem relevant to population or species conservation?
Because resources are limited, priority should be given to studies for
which the answer to this question is clearly “yes.” For example, diseases
that occur in high prevalence and are known to cause mortality probably
warrant intensive investigation. Discrete events that could have significant
health impacts, such as a documented chemical or oil spill, a cold snap,
or an algal bloom, provide important opportunities to characterize these
impacts. This does not, however, diminish the potential value of other
studies even if the benefits are harder to appreciate.
2. Is the project feasible under the current logistic–funding constraints? Indepth diagnostic studies will require that a captured or stranded freeranging turtle be taken into a specialized veterinary facility. This involves
holding and transporting the animal, as well as maintaining it in captivity
for a period of time. This will disrupt other important field research
activities and may require extra personnel and vehicles to deal with the
turtle. Even routine basic health screening and diagnostic tests can be very
expensive. Routine plasma biochemistry and hematology panels cost
about $20–$40 per sample. Histological processing of a single biopsy or
necropsy specimen that yields a paraffin block and a single hematoxylin
and eosin stained slide presently costs between $10 and $20, and additional slides with special stains or unstained for immunohistochemistry
may cost $2–$5 each. Screening histopathology of representative tissues
1123 book.book Page 405 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM
405
can be obtained. The results of this process can also identify major questions for
future research, including what types of diagnostic tests need to be developed to
improve diagnostic capabilities.
15.4 COSTS–BENEFITS
In an ideal world, one would want to do the most thorough evaluation of every
available animal and completely work up every necropsy or illness case. The reality
is that resources (money, equipment, personnel, and, most important, time) are
limited. Therefore, decisions must be made on the basis of time, money, and materials
— how to get the most information using the resources that are available. The level
of investigation often mirrors the extent of the problem. Historically, however, causes
of morbidity and mortality in sea turtles have not been perceived as being as
important as other aspects of their population biology. Basic research into sea turtle
pathophysiology and improving disease diagnosis has often received low priority.
When available, more resources are invested in major epidemics versus individuals
that are sporadically found as stranded animals. However, often these resources are
mobilized too late, and lack of sustained investment in pathologic evaluations of
sporadic cases and strandings may represent lost opportunities to gather information
and perspective about background disease problems.
Questions to consider that are relevant to cost–benefit decisions in developing
health assessment programs and conducting diagnostic investigations include the
following:
1. Is the health problem relevant to population or species conservation?
Because resources are limited, priority should be given to studies for
which the answer to this question is clearly “yes.” For example, diseases
that occur in high prevalence and are known to cause mortality probably
warrant intensive investigation. Discrete events that could have significant
health impacts, such as a documented chemical or oil spill, a cold snap,
or an algal bloom, provide important opportunities to characterize these
impacts. This does not, however, diminish the potential value of other
studies even if the benefits are harder to appreciate.
2. Is the project feasible under the current logistic–funding constraints? Indepth diagnostic studies will require that a captured or stranded freeranging turtle be taken into a specialized veterinary facility. This involves
holding and transporting the animal, as well as maintaining it in captivity
for a period of time. This will disrupt other important field research
activities and may require extra personnel and vehicles to deal with the
turtle. Even routine basic health screening and diagnostic tests can be very
expensive. Routine plasma biochemistry and hematology panels cost
about $20–$40 per sample. Histological processing of a single biopsy or
necropsy specimen that yields a paraffin block and a single hematoxylin
and eosin stained slide presently costs between $10 and $20, and additional slides with special stains or unstained for immunohistochemistry
may cost $2–$5 each. Screening histopathology of representative tissues
1123 book.book Page 405 Monday, November 11, 2002 11:11 AM