{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,12]],"date-time":"2025-10-12T00:35:14Z","timestamp":1760229314794,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,8]],"date-time":"2022-06-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1654646400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Adhesions involving the bulbar and the palpebral conjunctiva (Symblepharon) may interfere with tear drainage, cause chronic conjunctivitis, and reduce ocular motility. This condition may be associated with adhesion of the edges of the upper and lower eyelids (ankyloblepharon). The present case describes bilateral symblepharon, ankyloblepharon and salt gland dysfunction in a juvenile Caretta caretta. The loggerhead presented both eyelids swollen, ulcerated, and not separable when rescued. Eye examination was not possible, but ultrasonography showed right bulbar integrity, while the left eye was smaller, with a thicker cornea that had lost its normal doubled lined structure. Surgical dissection of the fibrous adhesions between the palpebral and bulbar conjunctiva, cornea, and third eyelid was performed, and large dacryoliths were removed. The microscopic findings were consistent with chronic keratoconjunctivitis. Ultrastructurally, no virus-like particles were observed. In addition, tissue samples were negative for herpesvirus by qualitative PCR. The eyelids of both eyes and the corneal epithelium of the right eye healed; moreover, the vision was restored in the right eye. There were no recurrences after 12 months of follow-up, and the turtle was released 16 months after the end of treatments on the southern Tyrrhenian coast in the western Mediterranean Sea. To the authors\u2019 knowledge, this is the first report of symblepharon with ankyloblepharon and salt gland dysfunction in Caretta caretta turtle. Ocular ultrasonography was helpful in the preliminary diagnostic work-up.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci9060281","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,13]],"date-time":"2022-06-13T06:31:59Z","timestamp":1655101919000},"page":"281","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Symblepharon, Ankyloblepharon, and Salt Gland Dysfunction in a Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8862-3322","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Affuso","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Marine Turtle Research Group, Department of Marine Animal Conservation and Public Engagement, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Cristina","family":"Di Palma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Leonardo","family":"Meomartino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Interdepartmental Radiology Centre, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0177-3219","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonino","family":"Pace","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marine Turtle Research Group, Department of Marine Animal Conservation and Public Engagement, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80055 Portici, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5569-8774","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Serena","family":"Montagnaro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Valeria","family":"Russo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Giuseppina","family":"Mennonna","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Interdepartmental Radiology Centre, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4612-1759","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fabiana","family":"Micieli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3078-6510","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fulvio","family":"Maffucci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marine Turtle Research Group, Department of Marine Animal Conservation and Public Engagement, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8103-2236","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sandra","family":"Hochscheid","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Marine Turtle Research Group, Department of Marine Animal Conservation and Public Engagement, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80055 Portici, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Francesco","family":"Lamagna","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ilaria","family":"D\u2019Aquino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Barbara","family":"Lamagna","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples \u201cFederico II\u201d, 80137 Naples, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"258","article-title":"Evaluation of the eye diseases seen in Loggerhead Sea turtle (Caretta caretta)","volume":"165","author":"Ozsoy","year":"2014","journal-title":"Rev. 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