Prevalencia de Mycoplasma spp en cuatro especies de tortugas gigantes de un centro de crianza en la Isla Santa Cruz, Galápagos, mediante PCR.

Abstract

The present study was to determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma spp. in four species of turtles (C. donfaustoi, C. darwini, C. hoodensis and C. niger) located at the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. For this purpose, biological samples from buccal swabs were used and the PCR technique was applied as a diagnostic method. The results revealed an overall prevalence of 77.45 %, with C. donfaustoi being the species with the highest prevalence (86%) and C. niger the lowest prevalence 80%. Significant correlations were identified between the prevalence of Mycoplasma spp. and variables such as ocular discharge (χ²=43.35; p<0.001) and food cleanliness (χ²=6.68; p=0.0097), while variables such as contact with other species and overcrowding did not show relevant associations. The findings highlight the importance of biosecurity practices in the management of tortoises and suggest the need to continuously monitor their health status, especially in captivity. Furthermore, the implementation of additional genetic analyses is recommended to characterize the Mycoplasma spp. strains present and evaluate their long-term impact on populations to be repatriated. This study contributes to the epidemiological knowledge of the pathogen and to the design of management strategies for the conservation of Galapagos giant tortoises.