Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) as a coadjuvant in Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and Green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles rehabilitation: a clinical approach

Abstract

With the aim of evaluating the benefits of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in the rehabilitation of sea turtles with different pathologies, four Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) and one Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) admitted to wildlife rehabilitation center La Tahonilla in Tenerife were analyzed. The study involves three specimens with entanglement type lesions and two specimens with shell dermatomycosis. A Class IV low-intensity laser (K-Laser cube 2.0) was used as an adjunct to conventional management of traumatic and dermatological lesions in sea turtles. A standard schedule was used (three applications per week in the case of acute lesions and two applications per week in the case of chronic lesions). A predefined K-Laser cube protocol adapted to each lesion was used in each situation. Although no control cases exist for the situations described, the laser therapy appeared to reduce both healing time and inflammation in case of entanglement lesions compared with other clinical experiences. On an other hand, no effect of LLLT was observed on shell fungal lesions. Adjustments to the parameters of the laser protocols should be considered in view of the anatomical specificities of marine turtles, which have a particularly keratinized epidermis with relatively thick scales. No adverse effects attributable to the low-level laser therapy were observed in any of these cases. Wound healing of sea turtles can be a difficult problem to manage clinically, and laser therapy offers a non-invasive, drug-free option to aid in these cases