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Vanstreels RET, Durant A, Santos AP, Santos RG, Sarmiento AMS, Rossi S, Setim FE, Gattamorta MA, Matushima ER, Mayorga LFSP, Uhart MM. Exploring the relationship between environmental drivers and the manifestation of fibropapillomatosis in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in eastern Brazil. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290312. [PMID: 37616208 PMCID: PMC10449228 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a disease characterized by epithelial tumors that can impede life-sustaining activities of sea turtles, especially green turtles (Chelonia mydas). FP is caused by a herpesvirus, but environmental factors are also thought to play a role in triggering FP tumor growth. In this study, we evaluate the epidemiology of FP tumors in green turtles along the coast of Espírito Santo, Brazil, a region where juvenile green turtles are known to aggregate with high FP prevalence. A dataset comprising 2024 beach-cast green turtles recorded through daily beach surveys on 400 km of coastline from 2018 to 2021 (inclusive) was evaluated. FP tumors were recorded in 40.9% of the individuals in this dataset, and presence of FP tumors was predicted by individual variables (presence of marine leeches, stranding code, curved carapace length, body mass-size residual) and characteristics of the stranding site (distance to nearest metallurgical plant, mean sea surface salinity (SSS), annual range of sea surface temperature (SST)). Additionally, a second dataset comprising detailed information about the size and anatomical distribution of tumors in 271 green turtles with FP from the same region was evaluated. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed these turtles could be classified in three groups according to the anatomical distribution of their tumors, and in turn the group to which each turtle was assigned could be predicted by the study period (2010-2014 vs. 2018-2022) and by characteristics of the stranding/capture site (green turtle stranding density, mean sea surface chlorophyll-a concentration, mean SSS, mean SST, annual range of SST). These results corroborate that individual and environmental factors play a significant role driving FP epidemiology. Furthermore, the results suggest that rather than behaving as a single entity, FP may be seen as a mosaic of distinct anatomical patterns that are not necessarily driven by the same environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph E. T. Vanstreels
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
- Instituto de Pesquisa e Reabilitação de Animais Marinhos, Cariacica, ES, Brazil
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alexis Durant
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Allan P. Santos
- Instituto de Pesquisa e Reabilitação de Animais Marinhos, Cariacica, ES, Brazil
| | - Robson G. Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Marinha e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Angélica M. S. Sarmiento
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto Argonauta para a Conservação Costeira e Marinha, Ubatuba, SP, Brazil
| | - Silmara Rossi
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca, Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Areia Branca, RN, Brazil
| | - Fabiola E. Setim
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Universidade São Judas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Universidade Paulista, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marco A. Gattamorta
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliana R. Matushima
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Patologia, Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Marcela M. Uhart
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
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Rossi S, de Farias DSD, da Costa Bomfim A, Carreira RS, Grisi-Filho JHH, Massone CG, de Lima Silva FJ, Gavilan SA. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in liver samples of green turtles Chelonia mydas stranded in the Potiguar Basin, northeastern Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115264. [PMID: 37423081 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Sea turtles are affected by pollutants worldwide, and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been detected in different types of samples and at high levels in some cases. The present study brings concentrations of 37 PAHs in liver samples of 17 green turtles Chelonia mydas stranded in northeastern Brazil [four with cutaneous tumors of fibropapillomatosis (FP), being classified as FP+]. Six PAHs were detected in 100% of the liver samples, and all alkylated PAHs were frequently quantified. High levels of phenanthrene (771.20 and 794.43 ng g-1 d.w.) and fluorene (1882.36 ng g-1 d.w.) were found in three females FP- (without FP cutaneous tumors). On the other hand, one green turtle FP+ had the higher level of naphthalene (531.70 ng g-1 d.w.), compound detected in 82.35 % of the samples. Our study brings additional baseline of organic pollutants in green turtles, improving knowledge on bioaccumulation of these compounds in sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silmara Rossi
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Morfologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - Daniel Solon Dias de Farias
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Morfologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Aline da Costa Bomfim
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Morfologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Renato S Carreira
- Laboratório de Estudos Marinhos e Ambientais (LabMAM), Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Biostatística (LEB), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos G Massone
- Laboratório de Estudos Marinhos e Ambientais (LabMAM), Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Flávio José de Lima Silva
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Departamento de Turismo, Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Simone Almeida Gavilan
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Morfologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
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Morphologic and physiologic characteristics of green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings in southeastern Florida, USA. J Comp Physiol B 2022; 192:751-764. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-022-01450-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Farrell JA, Whitmore L, Mashkour N, Rollinson Ramia DR, Thomas RS, Eastman CB, Burkhalter B, Yetsko K, Mott C, Wood L, Zirkelbach B, Meers L, Kleinsasser P, Stock S, Libert E, Herren R, Eastman S, Crowder W, Bovery C, Anderson D, Godfrey D, Condron N, Duffy DJ. Detection and population genomics of sea turtle species via non-invasive environmental DNA analysis of nesting beach sand tracks and oceanic water. Mol Ecol Resour 2022; 22:2471-2493. [PMID: 35377560 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Elusive aquatic wildlife, such as endangered sea turtles, are difficult to monitor and conserve. As novel molecular and genetic technologies develop, it is possible to adapt and optimize them for wildlife conservation. One such technology is environmental (e)DNA - the detection of DNA shed from organisms into their surrounding environments. We developed species-specific green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtle probe-based qPCR assays, which can detect and quantify sea turtle eDNA in controlled (captive tank water and sand samples) and free ranging (oceanic water samples and nesting beach sand) settings. eDNA detection complemented traditional in-water sea turtle monitoring by enabling detection even when turtles were not visually observed. Furthermore, we report that high throughput shotgun sequencing of eDNA sand samples enabled sea turtle population genetic studies and pathogen monitoring, demonstrating that non-invasive eDNA techniques are viable and efficient alternatives to biological sampling (e.g. biopsies and blood draws). Genetic information was obtained from sand many hours after nesting events, without having to observe or interact with the target individual. This greatly reduces the sampling stress experienced by nesting mothers and emerging hatchlings, and avoids sacrificing viable eggs for genetic analysis. The detection of pathogens from sand indicates significant potential for increased wildlife disease monitoring capacity and viral variant surveillance. Together, these results demonstrate the potential of eDNA approaches to ultimately help understand and conserve threatened species such as sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Farrell
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Liam Whitmore
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Narges Mashkour
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Devon R Rollinson Ramia
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Rachel S Thomas
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Catherine B Eastman
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Brooke Burkhalter
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,The Turtle Hospital, 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL, 33050, USA
| | - Kelsey Yetsko
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33181, USA
| | - Cody Mott
- Inwater Research Group Inc, Jensen Beach, FL, 34957, USA
| | - Larry Wood
- Florida Hawksbill Project, National Save The Sea Turtle Foundation, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33308, USA
| | - Bette Zirkelbach
- The Turtle Hospital, 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL, 33050, USA
| | - Lucas Meers
- Mickler's Landing Turtle Patrol, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, 32082, USA
| | - Pat Kleinsasser
- Crescent Beach Turtle Patrol, Crescent Beach, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Sharon Stock
- Flagler Turtle Patrol, Marineland Beach, FL, 32080, USA
| | | | | | - Scott Eastman
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection, St Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | | | | | | | - David Godfrey
- The Sea Turtle Conservancy, Gainesville, FL, 32609, USA
| | - Nancy Condron
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,Mickler's Landing Turtle Patrol, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, 32082, USA
| | - David J Duffy
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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Zamana RR, Gattamorta MA, Cruz Ochoa PF, Navas-Suárez PE, Sacristán C, Rossi S, Grisi-Filho JHH, Silva IS, Matushima ER. High Occurrence of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) in Green Sea Turtles Chelonia mydas with and without Fibropapillomatosis in Feeding Areas of the São Paulo Coast, Brazil. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2021; 33:252-263. [PMID: 34634147 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) has been consistently associated with fibropapillomatosis (FP), a neoplastic disease that affects sea turtles globally. The DNA of ChHV5 has been detected in cutaneous and noncutaneous tissues (e.g., lung) of green sea turtles Chelonia mydas with (FP+) and without (FP-) clinical signs of FP, indicating a persistent ChHV5 infection. Previously published and custom primer pairs were used to amplify the fragments of ChHV5 unique long (UL) partial genes (UL30 and UL18) through end-point PCR from cutaneous tumors (n = 31), nontumored skin (n = 49), and lungs (n = 26) from FP+ (n = 31) and FP- (n = 18) green sea turtles. The DNA of ChHV5 was detected in cutaneous tumors (80.6%, 25/31), nontumored skin (74.2%, 23/31 FP+; 27.8%, 5/18 FP-), and lung samples (91.7%, 11/12 FP+; 100%, 14/14 FP-). The high occurrence of ChHV5 observed in lung samples from FP- individuals was unexpected (14/14), providing the first evidence of ChHV5 DNA presence in lungs of individuals without FP. Our results also revealed high ChHV5 occurrence among the tested cohort (93.9%, 46/49) and suggested that a large proportion (83.4%, 15/18) of FP- green sea turtles had subclinical ChHV5 infections. Hence, our findings support the hypothesis that ChHV5 requires one or more possibly environmental or immune-related co-factors to induce FP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ramblas Zamana
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Código Endereçamento Postal, 05508-010, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurélio Gattamorta
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Código Endereçamento Postal, 05508-010, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
- Instituto Federal de São Paulo, Campus Cubatão, Rua Maria Cristina 50, Casqueiro, Código Endereçamento Postal, 11533-160, Cubatão, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Pablo Felipe Cruz Ochoa
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Código Endereçamento Postal, 05508-010, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
- Bioparque Los Ocarros, Kilómetro 3 vía Restrepo, Villavicencio, Colombia
| | - Pedro Enrique Navas-Suárez
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Código Endereçamento Postal, 05508-010, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Carlos Sacristán
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Código Endereçamento Postal, 05508-010, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Silmara Rossi
- Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Morfologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova, Código Endereçamento Postal, 59072-970, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil
| | - José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Estatística, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Código Endereçamento Postal, 05508-010, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Isabela Santos Silva
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Código Endereçamento Postal, 05508-010, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
| | - Eliana Reiko Matushima
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Código Endereçamento Postal, 05508-010, São Paulo, São Paulo State, Brazil
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James A, Page-Karjian A, Charles KE, Edwards J, Gregory CR, Cheetham S, Buter BP, Marancik DP. Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 Prevalence and First Confirmed Case of Sea Turtle Fibropapillomatosis in Grenada, West Indies. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1490. [PMID: 34064092 PMCID: PMC8224268 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is strongly associated with fibropapillomatosis, a neoplastic disease of sea turtles that can result in debilitation and mortality. The objectives of this study were to examine green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles in Grenada, West Indies, for fibropapillomatosis and to utilize ChHV5-specific PCR, degenerate herpesvirus PCR, and serology to non-invasively evaluate the prevalence of ChHV5 infection and exposure. One-hundred and sixty-seven turtles examined from 2017 to 2019 demonstrated no external fibropapilloma-like lesions and no amplification of ChHV5 DNA from whole blood or skin biopsies. An ELISA performed on serum detected ChHV5-specific IgY in 18/52 (34.6%) of green turtles tested. In 2020, an adult, female green turtle presented for necropsy from the inshore waters of Grenada with severe emaciation and cutaneous fibropapillomas. Multiple tumors tested positive for ChHV5 by qPCR, providing the first confirmed case of ChHV5-associated fibropapillomatosis in Grenada. These results indicate that active ChHV5 infection is rare, although viral exposure in green sea turtles is relatively high. The impact of fibropapillomatosis in Grenada is suggested to be low at the present time and further studies comparing host genetics and immunologic factors, as well as examination into extrinsic factors that may influence disease, are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda James
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, Grenada; (A.J.); (J.E.); (S.C.); (B.P.B.)
| | - Annie Page-Karjian
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA;
| | | | - Jonnel Edwards
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, Grenada; (A.J.); (J.E.); (S.C.); (B.P.B.)
| | | | - Sonia Cheetham
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, Grenada; (A.J.); (J.E.); (S.C.); (B.P.B.)
| | - Brian P. Buter
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, Grenada; (A.J.); (J.E.); (S.C.); (B.P.B.)
| | - David P. Marancik
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University, True Blue, Grenada; (A.J.); (J.E.); (S.C.); (B.P.B.)
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7
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Farrell JA, Yetsko K, Whitmore L, Whilde J, Eastman CB, Ramia DR, Thomas R, Linser P, Creer S, Burkhalter B, Schnitzler C, Duffy DJ. Environmental DNA monitoring of oncogenic viral shedding and genomic profiling of sea turtle fibropapillomatosis reveals unusual viral dynamics. Commun Biol 2021; 4:565. [PMID: 33980988 PMCID: PMC8115626 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02085-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogen-induced cancers account for 15% of human tumors and are a growing concern for endangered wildlife. Fibropapillomatosis is an expanding virally and environmentally co-induced sea turtle tumor epizootic. Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is implicated as a causative virus, but its transmission method and specific role in oncogenesis and progression is unclear. We applied environmental (e)DNA-based viral monitoring to assess viral shedding as a direct means of transmission, and the relationship between tumor burden, surgical resection and ChHV5 shedding. To elucidate the abundance and transcriptional status of ChHV5 across early, established, regrowth and internal tumors we conducted genomics and transcriptomics. We determined that ChHV5 is shed into the water column, representing a likely transmission route, and revealed novel temporal shedding dynamics and tumor burden correlations. ChHV5 was more abundant in the water column than in marine leeches. We also revealed that ChHV5 is latent in fibropapillomatosis, including early stage, regrowth and internal tumors; higher viral transcription is not indicative of poor patient outcome, and high ChHV5 loads predominantly arise from latent virus. These results expand our knowledge of the cellular and shedding dynamics of ChHV5 and can provide insights into temporal transmission dynamics and viral oncogenesis not readily investigable in tumors of terrestrial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Farrell
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kelsey Yetsko
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
| | - Liam Whitmore
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Jenny Whilde
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
| | - Catherine B Eastman
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
| | - Devon Rollinson Ramia
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
| | - Rachel Thomas
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
| | - Paul Linser
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
| | - Simon Creer
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
| | - Brooke Burkhalter
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
| | - Christine Schnitzler
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David J Duffy
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK.
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8
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Okoh GR, Horwood PF, Whitmore D, Ariel E. Herpesviruses in Reptiles. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:642894. [PMID: 34026888 PMCID: PMC8131531 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.642894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the 1970s, several species of herpesviruses have been identified and associated with significant diseases in reptiles. Earlier discoveries placed these viruses into different taxonomic groups on the basis of morphological and biological characteristics, while advancements in molecular methods have led to more recent descriptions of novel reptilian herpesviruses, as well as providing insight into the phylogenetic relationship of these viruses. Herpesvirus infections in reptiles are often characterised by non-pathognomonic signs including stomatitis, encephalitis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis and proliferative lesions. With the exception of fibropapillomatosis in marine turtles, the absence of specific clinical signs has fostered misdiagnosis and underreporting of the actual disease burden in reptilian populations and hampered potential investigations that could lead to the effective control of these diseases. In addition, complex life histories, sampling bias and poor monitoring systems have limited the assessment of the impact of herpesvirus infections in wild populations and captive collections. Here we review the current published knowledge of the taxonomy, pathogenesis, pathology and epidemiology of reptilian herpesviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- God'spower Richard Okoh
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul F Horwood
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - David Whitmore
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Ellen Ariel
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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9
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Farrell JA, Whitmore L, Duffy DJ. The Promise and Pitfalls of Environmental DNA and RNA Approaches for the Monitoring of Human and Animal Pathogens from Aquatic Sources. Bioscience 2021. [PMCID: PMC8083301 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Novel forensics-inspired molecular approaches have revolutionized species detection in the wild and are particularly useful for tracing endangered or invasive species. These new environmental DNA or RNA (eDNA or eRNA)–based techniques are now being applied to human and animal pathogen surveillance, particularly in aquatic environments. They allow better disease monitoring (presence or absence and geographical spread) and understanding of pathogen occurrence and transmission, benefitting species conservation and, more recently, our understanding of the COVID-19 global human pandemic. In the present article, we summarize the benefits of eDNA-based monitoring, highlighted by two case studies: The first is a fibropapillomatosis tumor-associated herpesvirus (chelonid herpesvirus 5) driving a sea turtle panzootic, and the second relates to eRNA-based detection of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus driving the COVID-19 human pandemic. The limitations of eDNA- or eRNA-based approaches are also summarized, and future directions and recommendations of the field are discussed. Continuous eDNA- or eRNA-based monitoring programs can potentially improve human and animal health by predicting disease outbreaks in advance, facilitating proactive rather than reactive responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Farrell
- University of Florida's Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital (St. Augustine), and The University of Florida's Department of Biology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Gainesville), United States
| | - Liam Whitmore
- University of Limerick's Department of Biological Sciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Faculty of Science and Engineering, Limerick, Ireland
| | - David J Duffy
- University of Florida's Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital (St. Augustine), and The University of Florida's Department of Biology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Gainesville), United States
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10
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Insights on Immune Function in Free-Ranging Green Sea Turtles ( Chelonia mydas) with and without Fibropapillomatosis. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030861. [PMID: 33803547 PMCID: PMC8003005 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chelonid alphaherpesviruses 5 and 6 (ChHV5 and ChHV6) are viruses that affect wild sea turtle populations. ChHV5 is associated with the neoplastic disease fibropapillomatosis (FP), which affects green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in panzootic proportions. ChHV6 infection is associated with lung-eye-trachea disease (LETD), which has only been observed in maricultured sea turtles, although antibodies to ChHV6 have been detected in free-ranging turtles. To better understand herpesvirus prevalence and host immunity in various green turtle foraging aggregations in Florida, USA, our objectives were to compare measures of innate and adaptive immune function in relation to (1) FP tumor presence and severity, and (2) ChHV5 and ChHV6 infection status. Free-ranging, juvenile green turtles (N = 45) were captured and examined for external FP tumors in Florida's Big Bend, Indian River Lagoon, and Lake Worth Lagoon. Blood samples were collected upon capture and analyzed for ChHV5 and ChHV6 DNA, antibodies to ChHV5 and ChHV6, in vitro lymphocyte proliferation using a T-cell mitogen (concanavalin A), and natural killer cell activity. Despite an overall high FP prevalence (56%), ChHV5 DNA was only observed in one individual, whereas 20% of turtles tested positive for antibodies to ChHV5. ChHV6 DNA was not observed in any animals and only one turtle tested positive for ChHV6 antibodies. T-cell proliferation was not significantly related to FP presence, tumor burden, or ChHV5 seroprevalence; however, lymphocyte proliferation in response to concanavalin A was decreased in turtles with severe FP (N = 3). Lastly, green turtles with FP (N = 9) had significantly lower natural killer cell activity compared to FP-free turtles (N = 5). These results increase our understanding of immune system effects related to FP and provide evidence that immunosuppression occurs after the onset of FP disease.
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11
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Mashkour N, Jones K, Wirth W, Burgess G, Ariel E. The Concurrent Detection of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 and Chelonia mydas Papillomavirus 1 in Tumoured and Non-Tumoured Green Turtles. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030697. [PMID: 33807588 PMCID: PMC7999010 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Characterised by benign tumours, fibropapillomatosis is a debilitating disease that predominantly afflicts the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas). A growing body of evidence has associated these tumours with a herpesvirus. However, a recent study detected both herpesvirus and papillomavirus in these tumours. This result challenged the idea that the herpesvirus is the sole virus associated with this disease. The present study aimed to better understand the co-occurrence of these viruses in turtles with fibropapillomatosis (in both tumour samples and non-tumoured skin samples), in addition to samples from non-tumoured turtles. Both viruses were detected in all sample types, with the 43.5% of tumours containing both herpesvirus and papillomavirus. Tumour samples were found to contain the most herpesvirus while the highest amount of papillomavirus was detected in non-tumoured skin from turtles with tumours. Collectively, these results pivot the way we think about this disease; as an infectious disease where two separate viruses may be at play. Abstract Characterised by benign tumours, fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating disease that predominantly afflicts the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas). A growing body of histological and molecular evidence has associated FP tumours with Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5). However, a recent study which detected both ChHV5 and Chelonia mydas papillomavirus 1 (CmPV1) DNA in FP tumour tissues has challenged this hypothesis. The present study aimed to establish a probe-based qPCR to assess the wider prevalence of CmPV1 and co-occurrence with ChHV5 in 275 marine turtles foraging in waters adjacent to the east coast of Queensland, Australia: three categories: Group A (FP tumours), Group B (non-tumoured skin from FP turtles) and Group C (non-tumoured skin from turtles without FP). Concurrent detection of ChHV5 and CmPV1 DNA is reported for all three categories, where Group A had the highest rate (43.5%). ChHV5 viral loads in Group A were significantly higher than loads seen in Group B and C. This was not the case for CmPV1 where the loads in Group B were highest, followed by Group A. However, the mean CmPV1 load for Group A samples was not significantly different to the mean load reported from Group B or C samples. Collectively, these results pivot the way we think about FP; as an infectious disease where two separate viruses may be at play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narges Mashkour
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia; (K.J.); (W.W.); (G.B.); (E.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Karina Jones
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia; (K.J.); (W.W.); (G.B.); (E.A.)
- College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia
| | - Wytamma Wirth
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia; (K.J.); (W.W.); (G.B.); (E.A.)
| | - Graham Burgess
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia; (K.J.); (W.W.); (G.B.); (E.A.)
| | - Ellen Ariel
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia; (K.J.); (W.W.); (G.B.); (E.A.)
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12
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Emergence of a Novel Pathogenic Poxvirus Infection in the Endangered Green Sea Turtle ( Chelonia mydas) Highlights a Key Threatening Process. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020219. [PMID: 33572619 PMCID: PMC7911307 DOI: 10.3390/v13020219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging viral disease is a significant concern, with potential consequences for human, animal and environmental health. Over the past several decades, multiple novel viruses have been found in wildlife species, including reptiles, and often pose a major threat to vulnerable species. However, whilst a large number of viruses have been described in turtles, information on poxvirus in cheloniids remains scarce, with no molecular sequence data available to date. This study characterizes, for the first time, a novel poxvirus, here tentatively designated cheloniid poxvirus 1 (ChePV-1). The affected cutaneous tissue, recovered from a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) captured off the Central Queensland coast of Australia, underwent histological examination, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), DNA extraction and genomic sequencing. The novel ChePV-1 was shown to be significantly divergent from other known poxviruses and showed the highest sequence similarity (89.3%) to avipoxviruses (shearwater poxvirus 2 (SWPV2)). This suggests the novel ChePV-1 may have originated from a common ancestor that diverged from an avipoxvirus-like progenitor. The genome contained three predicted unique genes and a further 15 genes being truncated/fragmented compared to SWPV2. This is the first comprehensive study that demonstrates evidence of poxvirus infection in a marine turtle species, as well as a rare example of an avipoxvirus crossing the avian-host barrier. This finding warrants further investigations into poxvirus infections between species in close physical proximity, as well as in vitro and in vivo studies of pathogenesis and disease.
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13
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Reséndiz E, Fernández-Sanz H, Domínguez-Contreras JF, Ramos-Díaz AH, Mancini A, Zavala-Norzagaray AA, Aguirre AA. Molecular Characterization of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 in a Black Turtle ( Chelonia mydas) Fibropapilloma from Baja California Sur, Mexico. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11010105. [PMID: 33430211 PMCID: PMC7825673 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Fibropapillomatosis in sea turtles is a neoplastic disease associated with an infection by chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5, which can be fatal to turtles. The Baja California peninsula in the Mexican Pacific has been a relatively pristine environment for local aquatic wildlife; however, in the last decade, several turtles with this disease have been reported in the foraging areas of the region. Reasons for this are unknown but may be related to population growth, the surge of unchecked tourism, pollution, and fisheries, which have increased in the area over the past two decades. Finding a black turtle with fibropapillomatosis and chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 in a natural protected area to host one of the most important foraging areas for sea turtles in the Mexican Pacific represents a potential risk for the population of black turtles and other species of sea turtles that visit the feeding grounds of the peninsula. This suggests a need to strengthen research lines on the west coast of Mexico and generate conservation strategies for organisms and the ecosystems that they inhabit. Abstract During routine monitoring in Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, Mexico, a juvenile black turtle (Chelonia mydas) was captured, physically examined, measured, weighed, sampled, and tagged. The turtle showed no clinical signs suggestive of disease. Eleven months later, this turtle was recaptured in the same area, during which one lesion suggestive of fibropapilloma on the neck was identified and sampled for histopathology and molecular analysis. Histopathology revealed hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia, acanthosis, papillary differentiation and ballooning degeneration of epidermal cells, increased fibroblasts in the dermis, and angiogenesis, among other things. Hematological values were similar to those reported for clinically healthy black turtles and did not show notable changes between the first capture and the recapture; likewise, clinicopathological evaluation did not show structural or functional damage in the turtle’s systems. The chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) UL30 gene was amplified and sequenced for phylogeny; Bayesian reconstruction showed a high alignment with the genus Scutavirus of the Eastern Pacific group. This is one of the first reports of ChHV5 in a cutaneous fibropapilloma of a black turtle in the Baja California peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Reséndiz
- Departamento Académico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS), La Paz 23080, Mexico
- Health Assessments in Sea Turtles from BCS, La Paz 23085, Mexico;
- Asociación Mexicana de Veterinarios de Tortugas A.C., Xalapa 91050, Mexico
- Correspondence: (E.R.); (A.A.A.); Tel.: +52-(612)-12-3-88-00 (ext. 4100) (E.R.); +1-703-993-7590 (A.A.A.)
| | - Helena Fernández-Sanz
- Health Assessments in Sea Turtles from BCS, La Paz 23085, Mexico;
- CIMACO, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS), La Paz 23080, Mexico
| | | | | | - Agnese Mancini
- Grupo Tortuguero de las Californias A.C., La Paz 23098, Mexico;
| | | | - A. Alonso Aguirre
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
- Correspondence: (E.R.); (A.A.A.); Tel.: +52-(612)-12-3-88-00 (ext. 4100) (E.R.); +1-703-993-7590 (A.A.A.)
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14
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Molecular Assessment of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 Infection in Tumor-Free Green ( Chelonia mydas) and Loggerhead ( Caretta caretta) Sea Turtles in North Carolina, USA, 2015-2019. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10111964. [PMID: 33113823 PMCID: PMC7692682 DOI: 10.3390/ani10111964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Fibropapillomatosis is a debilitating tumor disease of sea turtles that is sometimes fatal. This disease is a key concern for sea turtle rehabilitation facilities due to its infectious nature, as it is associated with a virus called chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5. This is the first study to analyze antibodies to this virus in loggerhead sea turtles and represents the most complete dataset on viral detection in sea turtles encountered in the more northern latitudes of their habitat in the western Atlantic. Abstract Fibropapillomatosis is associated with chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) and tumor formation in sea turtles. We collected blood samples from 113 green (Chelonia mydas) and 112 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles without fibropapillomatosis, including 46 free-ranging turtles (20 green turtles, 26 loggerheads), captured in Core Sound, North Carolina, and 179 turtles (93 green turtles, 86 loggerheads) in rehabilitative care in North Carolina. Blood samples were analyzed for ChHV5 DNA using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and for antibodies to ChHV5 peptides using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). None of the samples from foraging turtles tested positive for ChHV5 by qPCR; ELISA was not used for foraging turtles. Samples from 18/179 (10.1%) rehabilitating turtles tested positive for ChHV5 using qPCR, and 32/56 (57.1%) rehabilitating turtles tested positive for antibodies to ChHV5 using ELISA. Five turtles that tested positive by qPCR or ELISA at admission converted to being undetectable during rehabilitation, and five that initially tested negative converted to being positive. Both sea turtle species were significantly more likely to test positive for ChHV5 using ELISA than with qPCR (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the proportions of green turtles versus loggerheads that tested positive for ChHV5 using qPCR, but loggerheads were significantly more likely than green turtles to test positive for ChHV5 using ELISA. This finding suggests that loggerheads infected with ChHV5 at some point in their life may be more able than green turtles to mount an effective immune response against recrudescent infection, pointing to species-specific genetic differences in the two species’ immune response to ChHV5 infection. This is the first study to analyze antibodies to ChHV5 in loggerhead turtles and represents the most complete dataset on ChHV5 DNA detection in sea turtles encountered in the more northern latitudes of their western Atlantic habitat.
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15
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Page-Karjian A, Chabot R, Stacy NI, Morgan AS, Valverde RA, Stewart S, Coppenrath CM, Manire CA, Herbst LH, Gregory CR, Ritchie BW, Perrault JR. Comprehensive health assessment of green turtles Chelonia mydas nesting in southeastern Florida, USA. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2020. [DOI: 10.3354/esr01036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Important indicators of population health needed for large-scale sea turtle population recovery efforts include demographics, disease and mortality trends, condition indices, and baseline blood data. With this comprehensive health assessment of adult female green sea turtles Chelonia mydas nesting on Juno Beach, Florida, USA, we (1) established comprehensive baseline health indices; (2) identified individuals with evidence of infection by chelonid alphaherpesviruses 5 and 6 (ChHV5, ChHV6), which are implicated in fibropapillomatosis and respiratory and skin disease, respectively; and (3) compared measured health indices between turtles that did versus those that did not test positive for ChHV5 and/or ChHV6. All 60 turtles included in the study were in good body condition with no external fibropapillomatosis tumors. Hematological and biochemical reference intervals were established. Via quantitative PCR (qPCR), 5/60 turtles (8%) tested positive for ChHV5, and all turtles were negative for ChHV6. Of 41 turtles tested for antibodies to ChHV5 and ChHV6, 29% and 15% tested positive, respectively, and 10% tested positive for antibodies to both viruses. Notably, there were no statistically significant differences between health variables for nesting turtles that tested positive for ChHV5 DNA versus those that tested negative; and also no differences between turtles that tested positive for ChHV5 or ChHV6 antibodies and those that did not. This suggests that these viruses are enzootically stable in Florida’s adult green turtles. This study provides a health profile of nesting green turtles in southeastern Florida applicable to temporal and spatial investigations of this and other populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Page-Karjian
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946, USA
| | - R Chabot
- Inwater Research Group, Jensen Beach, Florida 34957, USA
| | - NI Stacy
- Aquatic, Amphibian, and Reptile Pathology Program, Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA
| | - AS Morgan
- Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Fort Pierce, Florida 34946, USA
| | - RA Valverde
- Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana 70402, USA
- Sea Turtle Conservancy, Gainesville, Florida 32609, USA
| | - S Stewart
- Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana 70402, USA
| | - CM Coppenrath
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach, Florida 33408, USA
| | - CA Manire
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach, Florida 33408, USA
| | - LH Herbst
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA
| | - CR Gregory
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - BW Ritchie
- Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - JR Perrault
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Juno Beach, Florida 33408, USA
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16
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Johnson JG, Watson MK. Diseases of the Reptile Renal System. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2020; 23:115-129. [PMID: 31759443 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2019.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Renal disease accounts for a considerable amount of morbidity and mortality in reptiles, in part owing to inadequate husbandry practices, such as inappropriate temperature, humidity, and access to water. Inappropriate husbandry practices may lead to subclinical dehydration that can specifically impact the renal system, which relies on vascular perfusion to function. This article aims to highlight urinary pathophysiology and summarize infectious and noninfectious causes of renal disease in reptiles as a guide for differential diagnoses to consider during clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James G Johnson
- Department of Animal Health, Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive, St Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Megan K Watson
- Department of Animal Health, Zoo New England, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston, MA 02121, USA
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17
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Duffy DJ, Schnitzler C, Karpinski L, Thomas R, Whilde J, Eastman C, Yang C, Krstic A, Rollinson D, Zirkelbach B, Yetsko K, Burkhalter B, Martindale MQ. Sea turtle fibropapilloma tumors share genomic drivers and therapeutic vulnerabilities with human cancers. Commun Biol 2018; 1:63. [PMID: 30271945 PMCID: PMC6123702 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0059-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife populations are under intense anthropogenic pressures, with the geographic range of many species shrinking, dramatic reductions in population numbers and undisturbed habitats, and biodiversity loss. It is postulated that we are in the midst of a sixth (Anthropocene) mass extinction event, the first to be induced by human activity. Further, threatening vulnerable species is the increased rate of emerging diseases, another consequence of anthropogenic activities. Innovative approaches are required to help maintain healthy populations until the chronic underlying causes of these issues can be addressed. Fibropapillomatosis in sea turtles is one such wildlife disease. Here, we applied precision-medicine-based approaches to profile fibropapillomatosis tumors to better understand their biology, identify novel therapeutics, and gain insights into viral and environmental triggers for fibropapillomatosis. We show that fibropapillomatosis tumors share genetic vulnerabilities with human cancer types, revealing that they are amenable to treatment with human anti-cancer therapeutics. David Duffy et al. use a precision-medicine-based approach to study fibropapillomatosis tumors in sea turtles to identify environmental triggers and potential therapeutics. They show that these tumors share genetic similarities with human cancer types, and may be treatable using human anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Duffy
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA. .,Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK. .,Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Christine Schnitzler
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Lorraine Karpinski
- The Turtle Hospital, 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL, 33050, USA.,Pinecrest Veterinary Hospital, 12125 South Dixie Highway, Pinecrest, FL, 33156, USA
| | - Rachel Thomas
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Jenny Whilde
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Catherine Eastman
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Calvin Yang
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Aleksandar Krstic
- Systems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
| | - Devon Rollinson
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Bette Zirkelbach
- The Turtle Hospital, 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL, 33050, USA
| | - Kelsey Yetsko
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Brooke Burkhalter
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Mark Q Martindale
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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