The Genus Rhytidodoides Price, 1939 (Digenea: Rhytidodidae) in Brazil: New Geographic Occurrence and Report of Pathology in the Gallbladder.

The present note describes the occurrence of Rhytidodoides intestinalis and Rhytidodoides similis (Digenea: Rhytidodidae) in the gallbladder of two juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas - Testudines, Cheloniidae) found on the coast of Brazil. Both were detected in gallbladder and intestine of green turtles: Rhytidodoides similis (United States, Panama, Costa Rica and Brazil) and R. intestinais (United States, Panama and Costa Rica). This note is the first report of R. intestinalis in Brazil and South-West Atlantic Ocean. Also the histological lesions caused by the parasites in one gallbladder are described.

Anoxia Effects in Asphyxiated Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) Caught in an Artisanal Fishing Net on the Coast of Brazil.

Among studies of drowning in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), none have associated drowning with injuries of organs other than the lung. We describe the gross and microscopical findings in 23 green sea turtles found dead in a fishing net. Deprived of air, these animals experienced hypoxia and anoxia before dying, which caused congestion, hydropic degeneration and necrosis in several organs. There was no evidence of an alternative cause of death. These findings demonstrate a pattern characteristic of death by asphyxia caused by drowning.