Drugs response of Falcaustra kutcheri parasite in Sulawesi forest turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) in Italian breeding centre.

Sulawesi forest turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) even if it’s listed on CITES Appendix II actually is considered critically endangered for IUCN red list. Management of a sustainable captive population of the critically endangered Sulawesi forest turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) has been a priority for the conservation of the species. Mortality in captivity varies widely among keepers and shipments, but generally ranges from 25 to 100%. In breeding center the most common reported causes of death were correlated with parasite infestation. In 2000 Bursey et al. described and identified for the first time Falcaustra kutcheri in one free-living adult male of Sulawesi Forest Turtle (Geoemyda yuwonoi) now called Leucocephalon youwonoi. After this first description very little is known about this specie of nematode and its cycle, moreover the knowledges about the management of breeding of Sulawesi Forest Turtle in captivity is very poor. This report describes the first european identification of this parasite in imported Leucocephalon youwonoi, and the drug treatments responce against Falcaustra kutcheri and protozoan infestation in seven subjects of Leucocephalon youwonoi from italian breeding centre.