The Caretta caretta is the only known sea turtle that nests along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. It is considered a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because it is threatened by human activities. The aim of this work was to analyze biochemical parameters in different age groups of C. caretta subjects recovered at the Centro di Referenza Nazionale sul Benessere, Monitoraggio e Diagnostica delle Malattie delle Tartarughe Marine (C.Re.Ta.M.), Sicily. Biometric parameters were recorded for each subject. Peripheral blood was collected and centrifuged, and 18 biochemical parameters were analyzed. Glucose and total proteins showed lower values in juvenile turtles than in sub-adult and adult subjects. Since blood biochemical parameters can be influenced by several factors (age, sex, infectious disease, or trauma), we evaluated differences in the values of some parameters between the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons of adult turtles whose sex and cause of stranding could be determined. Despite the small number of subjects, it would seem that, in adult turtles, the values of ALP, γ-GT, Fe, and LDH are higher during the reproductive season. These biochemical variations showed important differences in the parameters, underlining their importance in assessing the health status of turtles and better understanding their physiology during different stages of their lives.

Plastic pollution in marine environments, particularly the Mediterranean Sea, poses a significant threat to marine life, including sea turtles. This study investigates the ingestion of marine litter by Caretta caretta from Sicily (Italy), focusing on the quantity, quality, and seasonal variations of ingested plastic debris. From 2018 to 2024, N = 344 sea turtles (N = 237 alive, N = 107 dead; CCL mean ± sd = 49.09 ± 14.69) were recovered, of which 103 (29.94 %) (CCL from 15 to 80 cm; mean 49.09 cm) ingested litter. The study used standard protocols to analyze the gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of dead and live turtles, respectively. A total 255.86 g of marine litter was found in the gastrointestinal tract and most of them belonged to SHE category (27.44 %), while the less present category was POTH (2.9 %). Variability in the amount and type of litter ingested across different years was evidenced. Differences were observed in plastic ingestion across age groups, with juveniles consuming less plastic than sub-adults and adults. Subjects recovered from Central Mediterranean Sea ingested a total of 189.98 g of marine litter (28.60 % represented by SHE category); while in those recovered from Western Mediterranean Sea, the total dry mass was 65.88 g (34.33 % represented by THR category). While marine litter ingestion did not significantly correlate with reproductive cycles, it had potential sub-lethal effects, including gastrointestinal disturbances and long-term health impacts due to plastic additives. This research underlines the need for targeted conservation strategies and further studies on the long-term effects of plastic pollution on marine species and ecosystems.

The rehabilitation of the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, involves stressors like handling and confinement. To assess physiological stress responses during rehabilitation, twenty-five C. caretta hospitalized at C.Re.Ta.M. were monitored over a two-month period at three time points (T0, T1, and T2). The cohort included 12 juveniles (CCL: 30.6 ± 5.7 cm) and 13 subadults (CCL: 52.5 ± 10.4 cm). Heterophil/lymphocyte ratios (H/L), corticosterone (CORT), glucose (Glu), creatine kinase (CK), and uric acid (UA) plasma concentrations were assessed. Two-way repeated-measure ANOVA revealed significant time effects on H/L ratio (p < 0.0001), CORT (p < 0.0001), Glu (p = 0.0002), CK (p < 0.0001), and UA (p < 0.05), with a significative group x time interaction observed for CK (p = 0.016), CORT (p = 0.006) and UA (p = 0.035). No group effect was observed in any of the data. In the juvenile group, H/L (p < 0.01) and CORT (p < 0.001) were significantly lower at T2 compared to T0. At the T0 point, CORT levels were significantly higher in juveniles compared to the subadult group. In subadults, significant decreases in H/L ratio (p < 0.001), Glu (p < 0.01), CK (p < 0.001), and UA (p < 0.05) were observed at both T1 and T2 relative to T0. At T0, CK levels were significantly higher in subadults compared to juveniles. No significant correlations were found between CORT and the other measured parameters. Our results suggest that the rehabilitation period is a safety period during which the animals reestablish their homeostasis despite captivity conditions. However, further studies are needed to define other causes of variations in stress levels in rehabilitating C. caretta.

This exploratory study compared gut microbiota composition and targeted detection of eight antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) among three geographically and ecologically distinct Sicilian populations: domestic pigs (DP), urban wild boars (WB-U), and sylvatic wild boars (WB-S). Ileal samples were collected from 36 animals (12 per group) and profiled by 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4) sequencing and PCR screening for β-lactam (blaTEM, blaCTX-M IV, blaOXA, blaSHV) and tetracycline (tetA, tetB, tetC, tetD). Firmicutes and Proteobacteria dominated all groups. DP showed high abundance of Psychrobacter and Pseudomonas, whereas Lactobacillus prevailed in WB-U; WB-S showed an intermediate profile. Community composition differed among groups (PERMANOVA, p = 0.001). Pairwise comparisons identified differences between DP and each WB group (p = 0.0015 for both), but not between WB-U and WB-S (p = 0.302). blaTEM detection frequencies were 83.3% in WB-U, 16.7% in WB-S, and 50.0% in DP, with a significant WB-U–WB-S difference (p = 0.0099). tetA was detected in 41.7% of DP and 33.3% of WB-U; tetC only in WB-U (25.0%). These findings provide baseline information of differences in gut microbiota composition and in the detection of selected ARGs, while informing future surveillance strategies at the wildlife–livestock–human interface.

An interesting paper that describes a significant issue. It is well structured and organized. The data considered are of great importance given that it concerns a vulnerable species. I think it can be considered for publication.