Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: MARIA LUIZA SÁ DE LYRA FROTA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARIA LUIZA SÁ DE LYRA FROTA
DATE: 11/12/2025
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: Sala de reuniões do LDA
TITLE:

Diagnosis of metabolic-nutritional diseases in reptiles

KEY WORDS:

Reptiles; metabolic-nutritional diseases; colloid goiter; hypothyroidism.

PAGES: 49
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Medicina Veterinária
SUBÁREA: Patologia Animal
SPECIALTY: Patologia Clínica Animal
SUMMARY:

The aim of this study is to investigate an outbreak of colloid goiter in turtles of the genus Trachemys spp., kept under human care. Metabolic-nutritional diseases are among the most frequently diagnosed in reptiles kept in captivity and should always be considered as a differential diagnosis for sick animals. The class Reptilia encompasses groups with wide morphological, physiological, and ecological diversity, resulting from a long evolutionary history marked by adaptations to different environments and lifestyles.
The diversity of reptiles is manifested not only in external differences, such as variations in size, body shape, and the presence or absence of limbs, but also in particularities that allow survival in extreme environmental conditions. Among these characteristics, ectothermy stands out, such that the environment directly interferes with the metabolic functionality of the organism and generates great variability in processes, needs, and physiological parameters. To date, there are no reports in the literature on the occurrence of colloid goiter in Trachemys spp., nor on the clinical, morphological, hematological, and biochemical aspects associated with the condition in this species. The outbreak described occurred in a zoological collection located in the Zona da Mata region of Recife, Pernambuco. The animals that died presented diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland, follicular irregularity, and colloid distension, with areas of epithelial proliferation and mild inflammatory infiltrate. Turtles from the same enclosure showed clinical signs such as lethargy, obesity, and cervical myxedema. Ultrasonography revealed alterations in the size and echogenicity of the thyroid. Serum hormone panel showed a decrease in serum thyroxine levels and an increase in thyroid-stimulating hormone, a pattern confirming compensatory hypothyroidism. This study contributes to the understanding of thyroid alterations in chelonians and reinforces the importance of knowledge about the diagnosis of metabolic-nutritional disorders in the clinical practice of reptiles kept in captivity.

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - FABIO DE SOUZA MENDONCA
Externo ao Programa - ***.078.604-** - YURI MATEUS LIMA DE ALBUQUERQUE - UFRPE
Externa à Instituição - TELMA DE SOUSA LIMA - UECE