engleski

The impact of artificial UVB light on wound healing of injured loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

Vitamin D is essential for maintenance of calcium homeostasis and therefore critically important for development, growth, and maintenance of a healthy skeleton in vertebrates. To check whether the artificial uvb light provided by UVB tubes can promote wound healing and general health status of indoor kept marine turtles, a project on such an influence started in the Marine Turtle Rescue Centre Pula. In September 2015, a semi-adult loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) arrived to the Centre. The animal was debiltated, anorexic and dehidrated, with severe injury of the caudal part of the body, with loss of the bone structures and soft tissue. The wound was old and infected, with opened coleomic cavity. The animal was placed in a tank with the warm shallow water. Supporive therapy by warm fluids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and antimicrobial therapy was administered and the wound was treated with chlorhexidine 0.4%, Leucase N kegel and Calcium-sodium alginate dressing on a daily basis.The uvb lamp (Arcadia Zoo bar) was placed 60 cm above the water surface and was switched on eight hours a day. The impact of uvb light was assessed by measurements of Ca, P and vitamin 25(OH)D3 blood levels every two months until the full rehabilitation. The UV index and UVB output of UVB tube were measured in three-month intervals by a Solarmeters (Model 6.5 and 6.2, Solarlight company inc.) to ensure an adequate UVB spectrum. The level of vitamin 25(OH)D3 increased from 41, 8 nmol/L at the beginning of exposure to 98, 4 nmol/L at the end of exposure. The wound healing and general health condition improvement assessed by visual inspection seemed to be much faster than in non-exposed animals. Ca and P values varied during the healing period but stayed within the normal range for Loggerhead sea turtles. In conclusion, UVB exposure accelerated wound healing and improved general health condition in injured, indoor kept marine turtle so that its use seems plausible in such cases.

UVB light, wound healing, sea turtle

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