Histopathological lung damage associated with Sebekia sp. in farmed Crocodylus moreletii from Campeche, Mexico

Abstract Pentastomids are parasitic arthropods that infect the respiratory tract of vertebrates, with the genus Sebekia being particularly associated with crocodilians. In October 2023, a postmortem examination was performed on a farmed Crocodylus moreletii in Campeche, Mexico. Histological and parasitological examinations revealed the presence of Sebekia sp. within the pulmonary parenchyma of the right lung, associated with focal tissue damage, vascular congestion, haemorrhage, oedema, fibroconnective tissue proliferation and granulomatous inflammation with necrotic areas, consistent with a chronic inflammatory response to parasitic infection. To our knowledge, this represents the first documented report of Sebekia sp. infection in captive C. moreletii in Mexico. These findings highlight the pathological impact of pentastomid infection on pulmonary health, and emphasise the importance of preventive health monitoring and appropriate management practices in crocodilian farming systems.