Isolation and molecular identification of pathogens causing sea turtle egg fusariosis in key nesting beaches in Costa Rica.

ABSTRACT: The global rise of fungal pathogens presents an emerging threat to biodiversity, with significant risks to species such as endangered sea turtles. The fungal disease known as sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF) is associated with high embryo mortality rates and represents a substantial conservation challenge. This disease is caused by two fungal species, namely Fusarium falciforme (Ff) and Fusarium keratoplasticum (Fk), and their identification is essential for guiding future efforts to address potential fungal infections, particularly on important nesting beaches such as those in Costa Rica. In this study, we conducted fungal isolations from sea turtle eggshells and nest sand at four key nesting beaches along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Costa Rica to evaluate the presence of STEF-cau

SUBMITTER: Cordero-Umana KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12463207 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature