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How much medicine do you give a sea turtle
that has a funky fungal infection?
Researchers and veterinarian students from N.C. State College
of Veterinary Medicine spent several weeks trying to find
out by taking blood samples for a study of the antifungal
drug, fluconazole.
According to researchers, sea turtles often contract fungal
pneumonia and fungal shell infections. Fungal pneumonia is
a frequent problem with cold-stunned turtles.
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Researchers hope to find
an effective treatment
for fungal infections in marine turtles |
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Cold-stunning occurs when turtles remain in an
area too late in the year and are caught by cold weather. Like
humans, sea turtles breathe with lungs, which makes them vulnerable
to respiratory ailments. Fluconazole is used in a number of
species, including humans, and studies have been done to find
effective doses for reptiles, like alligators. But a true dosage
has not been found, nor has a study been done for sea turtles.
It will take several months to analyze the data, but the results
will help veterinarian across the country and around the world
determine an effective dosage for treatment of fungal infections
in marine turtles. |
