Humoral immune responses to select marine bacteria in loggerhead, Caretta caretta, and Kemp's ridley, Lepidochelys kempii, sea turtles from the south eastern United States.

Serum from Kemp's ridley and loggerhead sea turtles was collected in summers of 2011, 2012, and 2013. Serum IgY recognition of lysate proteins from nine bacteria species and whole bacteria-specific IgY titers to these pathogens were quantified. Serum and purified IgY recognized proteins of all bacteria, with protein recognition in some species more pronounced than others. Circulating IgY titers against V. vulnificus, V. anguillarum, E. rhusiopathiae, and B. vesicularis changed over the years in Kemp's ridley turtles, while titers IgY against V. vulnificus, E. coli, V. parahaemolyticus, B. vesicularis, and M. marinum were different in loggerhead turtles. Serum lysozyme activity was constant for loggerhead turtles over the 3 years, while activity in Kemp's ridleys were lower in 2012 than 2013. Blood PCV, glucose levels, and serum protein levels were comparable to healthy turtles in previous studies, therefore, this study provides baseline information on antibody responses in healthy, wild turtles. Received 25 May 2017 accepted 09 Oct 2017 revised 15 Sep 2017.