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Manes C, Herren RM, Page A, Dunlap FD, Skibicki CA, Rollinson Ramia DR, Farrell JA, Capua I, Carthy RR, Duffy DJ. Green Turtle Fibropapillomatosis: Tumor Morphology and Growth Rate in a Rehabilitation Setting. Vet Sci 2023; 10:421. [PMID: 37505827 PMCID: PMC10383401 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10070421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease most often found in green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Afflicted turtles are burdened with potentially debilitating tumors concentrated externally on the soft tissues, plastron, and eyes and internally on the lungs, kidneys, and the heart. Clinical signs occur at various levels, ranging from mild disease to severe debilitation. Tumors can both progress and regress in affected turtles, with outcomes ranging from death due to the disease to complete regression. Since its official description in the scientific literature in 1938, tumor growth rates have been rarely documented. In addition, FP tumors come in two very different morphologies; yet, to our knowledge, there have been no quantified differences in growth rates between tumor types. FP tumors are often rugose in texture, with a polypoid to papillomatous morphology, and may or may not be pedunculated. In other cases, tumors are smooth, with a skin-like surface texture and little to no papillose structures. In our study, we assessed growth-rate differences between rugose and smooth tumor morphologies in a rehabilitation setting. We measured average biweekly tumor growth over time in green turtles undergoing rehabilitation at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital in St. Augustine, Florida, and compared growth between rugose and smooth tumors. Our results demonstrate that both rugose and smooth tumors follow a similar active growth progression pattern, but rugose tumors grew at significantly faster rates (p = 0.013) than smooth ones. We also documented regression across several examined tumors, ranging from -0.19% up to -10.8% average biweekly negative growth. Our study offers a first-ever assessment of differential growth between tumor morphologies and an additional diagnostic feature that may lead to a more comprehensive understanding and treatment of the disease. We support the importance of tumor morphological categorization (rugose versus smooth) being documented in future FP hospital- and field-based health assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Manes
- One Health Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Richard M Herren
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- The Sea Turtle Conservancy, Gainesville, FL 32609, USA
| | - Annie Page
- Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA
| | - Faith D Dunlap
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Devon R Rollinson Ramia
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA
| | - Jessica A Farrell
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL 32080, USA
| | - Ilaria Capua
- School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Raymond R Carthy
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - David J Duffy
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL 32080, 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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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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Blackburn NB, Leandro AC, Nahvi N, Devlin MA, Leandro M, Martinez Escobedo I, Peralta JM, George J, Stacy BA, deMaar TW, Blangero J, Keniry M, Curran JE. Transcriptomic Profiling of Fibropapillomatosis in Green Sea Turtles ( Chelonia mydas) From South Texas. Front Immunol 2021; 12:630988. [PMID: 33717164 PMCID: PMC7943941 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.630988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor promoting disease that is one of several threats globally to endangered sea turtle populations. The prevalence of FP is highest in green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) populations, and historically has shown considerable temporal growth. FP tumors can significantly affect the ability of turtles to forage for food and avoid predation and can grow to debilitating sizes. In the current study, based in South Texas, we have applied transcriptome sequencing to FP tumors and healthy control tissue to study the gene expression profiles of FP. By identifying differentially expressed turtle genes in FP, and matching these genes to their closest human ortholog we draw on the wealth of human based knowledge, specifically human cancer, to identify new insights into the biology of sea turtle FP. We show that several genes aberrantly expressed in FP tumors have known tumor promoting biology in humans, including CTHRC1 and NLRC5, and provide support that disruption of the Wnt signaling pathway is a feature of FP. Further, we profiled the expression of current targets of immune checkpoint inhibitors from human oncology in FP tumors and identified potential candidates for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas B. Blackburn
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Ana Cristina Leandro
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
| | - Nina Nahvi
- Sea Turtle Inc., South Padre Island, TX, United States
| | | | - Marcelo Leandro
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
| | | | - Juan M. Peralta
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Jeff George
- Sea Turtle Inc., South Padre Island, TX, United States
| | - Brian A. Stacy
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | | | - John Blangero
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
| | - Megan Keniry
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX, United States
| | - Joanne E. Curran
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, United States
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Yetsko K, Farrell JA, Blackburn NB, Whitmore L, Stammnitz MR, Whilde J, Eastman CB, Ramia DR, Thomas R, Krstic A, Linser P, Creer S, Carvalho G, Devlin MA, Nahvi N, Leandro AC, deMaar TW, Burkhalter B, Murchison EP, Schnitzler C, Duffy DJ. Molecular characterization of a marine turtle tumor epizootic, profiling external, internal and postsurgical regrowth tumors. Commun Biol 2021; 4:152. [PMID: 33526843 PMCID: PMC7851172 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01656-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Sea turtle populations are under threat from an epizootic tumor disease (animal epidemic) known as fibropapillomatosis. Fibropapillomatosis continues to spread geographically, with prevalence of the disease also growing at many longer-affected sites globally. However, we do not yet understand the precise environmental, mutational and viral events driving fibropapillomatosis tumor formation and progression.Here we perform transcriptomic and immunohistochemical profiling of five fibropapillomatosis tumor types: external new, established and postsurgical regrowth tumors, and internal lung and kidney tumors. We reveal that internal tumors are molecularly distinct from the more common external tumors. However, they have a small number of conserved potentially therapeutically targetable molecular vulnerabilities in common, such as the MAPK, Wnt, TGFβ and TNF oncogenic signaling pathways. These conserved oncogenic drivers recapitulate remarkably well the core pan-cancer drivers responsible for human cancers. Fibropapillomatosis has been considered benign, but metastatic-related transcriptional signatures are strongly activated in kidney and established external tumors. Tumors in turtles with poor outcomes (died/euthanized) have genes associated with apoptosis and immune function suppressed, with these genes providing putative predictive biomarkers.Together, these results offer an improved understanding of fibropapillomatosis tumorigenesis and provide insights into the origins, inter-tumor relationships, and therapeutic treatment for this wildlife epizootic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Yetsko
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Jessica A Farrell
- The 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
| | - Nicholas B Blackburn
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Liam Whitmore
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Maximilian R Stammnitz
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Jenny Whilde
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Catherine B Eastman
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Devon Rollinson Ramia
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Rachel Thomas
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Aleksandar Krstic
- Systems Biology Ireland & Precision Oncology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland
| | - Paul Linser
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Simon Creer
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Gary Carvalho
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | | | - Nina Nahvi
- Sea Turtle Inc., South Padre Island, TX, USA
| | - Ana Cristina Leandro
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX, USA
| | | | - Brooke Burkhalter
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience and Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, USA
| | - Elizabeth P Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Christine Schnitzler
- The 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
| | - David J Duffy
- The 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.
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
- Systems Biology Ireland & Precision Oncology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, 4, Ireland.
- Molecular Ecology and Fisheries Genetics Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.
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Anselmo NP, França MFDL, Santos MQDC, Pantoja-Lima J, Silva CKPD, Aride PHR, De Oliveira AT. Hematologycal and blood biochemistry parameters of captive big-headed amazon river turtles, Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Testudines: Podocnemididae). ACTA BIOLÓGICA COLOMBIANA 2021. [DOI: 10.15446/abc.v26n2.80616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The determination of hematological values is used to obtain knowledge about the health conditions of animal species. The big-headed Amazon River turtles, (Peltocephalus dumerilianus)are considered one of the least known testudine species concerning their biology and health status. Herein, we determined the hematological and plasma biochemical parameters of 17 (eight males and nine females) adult P. dumerilianusto provide reference interval values for clinically healthy individuals. We collected the blood samples by puncturing the femoral vein using long heparinized hypodermic syringes. Sexual dimorphism for individuals was determined by external observation of the shape of the plastron. The average values obtained for the ten hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed were red blood cell count = 0.32 million µL-1; hematocrit = 20.6 %; hemoglobin = 8.5 g dL-1; mean corpuscular volume = 681.6 fL; mean corpuscular hemoglobin = 267.8 pg; mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration = 41.9 g dL-1; glucose = 80.6 mg dL-1, total protein = 4.1 g dL-1, triglycerides = 388.9 mg dL-1, and total cholesterol = 79.3 mg dL-1. Despite the sexual dimorphism evidenced for the species, there was no significant statistical difference between males and females for both hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed herein. Based on these results, the population is considered healthy, with parameter values coinciding with previously reported reference ranges for testudines species in the region. The results obtained in this study can be used for assessing the health status of other Amazonian turtle populations, especially in actions aimed at cultivation strategies, management, and species conservation.
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da Silva-Júnior ES, de Farias DSD, da Costa Bomfim A, da Boaviagem Freire AC, Revorêdo RÂ, Rossi S, Matushima ER, Hildebrand Grisi-Filho JH, de Lima Silva FJ, Gavilan SA. Stranded Marine Turtles in Northeastern Brazil: Incidence and Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Fibropapillomatosis. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1359.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edson Soares da Silva-Júnior
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Morfologia, Laboratório de Morfofisiologia Comparada, Brazil [; ; ; rafael.revoredo@hotma
| | - Daniel Solon Dias de Farias
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Morfologia, Laboratório de Morfofisiologia Comparada, Brazil [; ; ; rafael.revoredo@hotma
| | - Aline da Costa Bomfim
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Morfologia, Laboratório de Morfofisiologia Comparada, Brazil [; ; ; rafael.revoredo@hotma
| | - Augusto Carlos da Boaviagem Freire
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca, Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Laboratório de Monitoramento de Biota Marinha, Brazil [; ]
| | - Rafael Ângelo Revorêdo
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Morfologia, Laboratório de Morfofisiologia Comparada, Brazil [; ; ; rafael.revoredo@hotma
| | - Silmara Rossi
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Morfologia, Laboratório de Morfofisiologia Comparada, Brazil [; ; ; rafael.revoredo@hotma
| | - Eliana Reiko Matushima
- Grupo de Estudos sobre Fibropapilomatose em Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil []
| | - José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Biostatística, Brazil []
| | - Flávio José de Lima Silva
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca, Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, Laboratório de Monitoramento de Biota Marinha, Brazil [; ]
| | - Simone Almeida Gavilan
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Centro de Biociências, Departamento de Morfologia, Laboratório de Morfofisiologia Comparada, Brazil [; ; ; rafael.revoredo@hotma
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9
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Page-Karjian A, Gottdenker NL, Whitfield J, Herbst L, Norton TM, Ritchie B. Potential Noncutaneous Sites of Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 Persistence and Shedding in Green Sea Turtles Chelonia mydas. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2017; 29:136-142. [PMID: 28438079 DOI: 10.1080/08997659.2017.1321590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), the likely etiologic agent of sea turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP), is predicted to be unevenly distributed within an infected turtle, in which productive virus replication and virion shedding occurs in cutaneous tumor keratinocytes. In this study, we measured and compared ChHV5 DNA quantities in tumors, skin, urine, major organs, and nervous tissue samples from green turtles Chelonia mydas. These samples were taken from the carcasses of 10 juvenile green turtles with and without clinical signs of FP that stranded in Florida during 2014. Quantitative PCR for ChHV5 UL30 was used to identify ChHV5 DNA in tumors, skin, heart, kidney, nerves, and urine sampled from five out of five FP-positive and three out of five FP-free turtles. The most frequently co-occurring sites were cutaneous tumor and kidney (n = 4). Novel data presented here include the identification of ChHV5 DNA in kidney, heart, and nerve samples from three FP-free turtles. These data support candidate nontumored anatomic sites of ChHV5 DNA localization and mobilization during two different disease states that may be involved in the ChHV5 infection cycle. Received September 8, 2016; accepted April 17, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Page-Karjian
- a Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine , University of Georgia ,501 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens , Georgia 30602 , USA
| | - Nicole L Gottdenker
- a Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine , University of Georgia ,501 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens , Georgia 30602 , USA
| | - Jordyn Whitfield
- a Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine , University of Georgia ,501 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens , Georgia 30602 , USA
| | - Lawrence Herbst
- b Department of Pathology , Albert Einstein College of Medicine , 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx , New York 10461 , USA
| | - Terry M Norton
- c Georgia Sea Turtle Center, 214 Stable Road, Jekyll Island , Georgia 31527 , USA
| | - Branson Ritchie
- d Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine , University of Georgia ,110 Riverbend Road, Riverbend North, Athens , Georgia 30602 , USA
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10
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Rossi S, Sánchez-Sarmiento AM, Vanstreels RET, dos Santos RG, Prioste FES, Gattamorta MA, Grisi-Filho JHH, Matushima ER. Challenges in Evaluating the Severity of Fibropapillomatosis: A Proposal for Objective Index and Score System for Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Brazil. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0167632. [PMID: 27936118 PMCID: PMC5147950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease that affects marine turtles worldwide, especially green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). FP tumors can develop on the body surface of marine turtles and also internally in the oral cavity and viscera. Depending on their quantity, size and anatomical distribution, these tumors can interfere with hydrodynamics and the ability to feed, hence scoring systems have been proposed in an attempt to quantify the clinical manifestation of FP. In order to establish a new scoring system adapted to geographic regions, we examined 214 juvenile green sea turtles with FP caught or rescued at Brazilian feeding areas, counted their 7466 tumors and classified them in relation to their size and anatomical distribution. The patterns in quantity, size and distribution of tumors revealed interesting aspects in the clinical manifestation of FP in specimens studied in Brazil, and that FP scoring systems developed for other areas might not perform adequately when applied to sea turtles on the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. We therefore propose a novel method to evaluate the clinical manifestation of FP: fibropapillomatosis index (FPI) that provides the Southwest Atlantic fibropapillomatosis score (FPSSWA). In combination, these indexing and scoring systems allow for a more objective, rapid and detailed evaluation of the severity of FP in green sea turtles. While primarily designed for the clinical manifestation of FP currently witnessed in our dataset, this index and the score system can be adapted for other areas and compare the characteristics of the disease across regions. In conclusion, scoring systems to classify the severity of FP can assist our understanding on the environmental factors that modulate its development and its impacts on the individual and population health of green sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silmara Rossi
- Research Group on Fibropapillomatosis in Sea Turtles, University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | - Angélica María Sánchez-Sarmiento
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens (LAPCOM), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
| | - Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens (LAPCOM), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
| | | | - Fabiola Eloisa Setim Prioste
- Research Group on Fibropapillomatosis in Sea Turtles, University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens (LAPCOM), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurélio Gattamorta
- Research Group on Fibropapillomatosis in Sea Turtles, University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
- Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas (FMU), São Paulo/SP, Brazil
| | - José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Estatística (LEB), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
| | - Eliana Reiko Matushima
- Research Group on Fibropapillomatosis in Sea Turtles, University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens (LAPCOM), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
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11
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A review of fibropapillomatosis in Green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Vet J 2015; 212:48-57. [PMID: 27256025 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Revised: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite being identified in 1938, many aspects of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of fibropapillomatosis (FP) in marine turtles are yet to be fully uncovered. Current knowledge suggests that FP is an emerging infectious disease, with the prevalence varying both spatially and temporally, even between localities in close proximity to each other. A high prevalence of FP in marine turtles has been correlated with residency in areas of reduced water quality, indicating that there is an environmental influence on disease presentation. Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) has been identified as the likely aetiological agent of FP. The current taxonomic position of ChHV5 is in the family Herpesviridae, subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, genus Scutavirus. Molecular differentiation of strains has revealed that a viral variant is typically present at specific locations, even within sympatric species of marine turtles, indicating that the disease FP originates regionally. There is uncertainty surrounding the exact path of transmission and the conditions that facilitate lesion development, although recent research has identified atypical genes within the genome of ChHV5 that may play a role in pathogenesis. This review discusses emerging areas where researchers might focus and theories behind the emergence of FP globally since the 1980s, which appear to be a multi-factorial interplay between the virus, the host and environmental factors influencing disease expression.
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12
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Hellebuyck T, Pasmans F, Ducatelle R, Saey V, Martel A. Detection of arenavirus in a peripheral odontogenic fibromyxoma in a red tail boa (Boa constrictor constrictor) with inclusion body disease. J Vet Diagn Invest 2015; 27:245-8. [PMID: 25776548 DOI: 10.1177/1040638714562825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A captive bred red tail boa (Boa constrictor constrictor) was presented with a large intraoral mass originating from the buccal gingiva, attached to the right dentary teeth row. Based on the clinical features and histological examination, the diagnosis of a peripheral odontogenic fibromyxoma was made. Sections of liver biopsies and circulating lymphocytes contained relatively few eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, indistinguishable from those observed in inclusion body disease-affected snakes. Inclusion bodies were not observed in cells comprising the neoplastic mass. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), arenavirus was detected in the neoplastic tissue. Two years after surgical removal of the mass, recurrence of the neoplastic lesion was observed. Numerous large inclusion body disease inclusions were abundantly present in the neoplastic cells of the recurrent fibromyxoma. Sections of liver biopsies and circulating lymphocytes contained relatively few intracytoplasmic inclusions. The RT-PCR revealed the presence of arenavirus in blood, a liver biopsy, and neoplastic tissue. The present case describes the co-occurrence of an arenavirus infection and an odontogenic fibromyxoma in a red tail boa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Hellebuyck
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Frank Pasmans
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Richard Ducatelle
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Veronique Saey
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - An Martel
- Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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13
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Page-Karjian A, Norton TM, Harms C, Mader D, Herbst LH, Stedman N, Gottdenker NL. Case descriptions of fibropapillomatosis in rehabilitating loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta in the southeastern USA. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2015; 115:185-191. [PMID: 26290503 DOI: 10.3354/dao02878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating neoplastic disease that affects all species of hard-shelled sea turtles, including loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta. FP can represent an important clinical concern in rehabilitating turtles, since managing these infectious lesions often requires special husbandry provisions including quarantine, and FP may affect clinical progression, extend rehabilitation duration, and complicate prognoses. Here we describe cases of rehabilitating loggerhead turtles with FP (designated FP+). Medical records of FP+ loggerhead cases from 3 sea turtle rehabilitation facilities in the southeastern USA were reviewed. Between 2001 and 2014, FP was observed in 8 of 818 rehabilitating loggerhead turtles (0.98% overall prevalence in admitted patients). FP+ loggerhead size classes represented were large juvenile (straight carapace length, SCL: 58.1-80 cm; n=7) and adult (SCL>87 cm; n=1). Three turtles presented with FP, and 5 developed tumors during rehabilitation within a range of 45 to 319 d. Sites of new tumor growth included the eyes, sites of trauma, neck, and glottis. FP+ turtles were scored as mildly (3/8), moderately (4/8), or heavily (1/8) afflicted. The mean total time in rehabilitation was 476±355 d (SD) (range: 52-1159 d). Six turtles were released without visible evidence of FP, 1 turtle was released with mild FP, and 1 turtle with internal FP was euthanized. Clinical decision-making for FP+ loggerhead patients can be aided by such information as time to tumor development, anatomic locations to monitor for new tumor growth, husbandry considerations, diagnostic and treatment options, and comparisons to FP in rehabilitating green turtles Chelonia mydas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Page-Karjian
- University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, 501 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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14
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Factors influencing survivorship of rehabilitating green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) with fibropapillomatosis. J Zoo Wildl Med 2014; 45:507-19. [PMID: 25314817 DOI: 10.1638/2013-0132r1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating, infectious neoplastic disease that has reached epizootic proportions in several tropical and subtropical populations of green turtles (Chelonia mydas). FP represents an important health concern in sea turtle rehabilitation facilities. The objectives of this study were to describe the observed epidemiology, biology, and survival rates of turtles affected by FP (FP+ turtles) in a rehabilitation environment; to evaluate clinical parameters as predictors of survival in affected rehabilitating turtles; and to provide information about case progression scenarios and potential outcomes for FP+ sea turtle patients. A retrospective case series analysis was performed using the medical records of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC), Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA, during 2009-2013. Information evaluated included signalment, morphometrics, presenting complaint, time to FP onset, tumor score (0-3), co-morbid conditions, diagnostic test results, therapeutic interventions, and case outcomes. Overall, FP was present in 27/362 (7.5%) of all sea turtles admitted to the GSTC for rehabilitation, either upon admittance or during their rehabilitation. Of these, 25 were green and 2 were Kemp's ridley turtles. Of 10 turtles that had only plaque-like FP lesions, 60% had natural tumor regression, all were released, and they were significantly more likely to survive than those with classic FP (P = 0.02 [0.27-0.75, 95% CI]). Turtles without ocular FP were eight times more likely to survive than those with ocular FP (odds ratio = 8.75, P = 0.032 [1.21-63.43, 95% CI]). Laser-mediated tumor removal surgery is the treatment of choice for FP+ patients at the GSTC; number of surgeries was not significantly related to case outcome.
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15
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Rodenbusch CR, Baptistotte C, Werneck MR, Pires TT, Melo MTD, de Ataíde MW, Testa P, Alieve MM, Canal CW. Fibropapillomatosis in green turtles Chelonia mydas in Brazil: characteristics of tumors and virus. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2014; 111:207-217. [PMID: 25320033 DOI: 10.3354/dao02782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a benign neoplasia that affects physiological functions of sea turtles and may lead to death. High prevalence of FP in sea turtle populations has prompted several research groups to study the disease and the associated herpesvirus, chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5). The present study detected and quantified ChHV5 in 153 fibropapilloma samples collected from green turtles Chelonia mydas on the Brazilian coast between 2009 and 2010 to characterize the relationship between viral load and tumor characteristics. Of the tumor samples collected, 73 and 87% were positive for ChHV5 in conventional PCR and real-time PCR, respectively, and viral loads ranged between 1 and 118.62 copies cell⁻¹. Thirty-three percent of turtles were mildly, 28% were moderately and 39% were severely affected with FP. Skin samples were used as negative control. High viral loads correlated positively with increasing FP severity in turtles sampled on the Brazilian coast and with samples from turtles found dead in the states of São Paulo and Bahia. Six viral variants were detected in tumor samples, 4 of which were similar to the Atlantic phylogenetic group. Two variants were similar to the western Atlantic/eastern Caribbean phylogenetic group. Co-infection in turtles with more than one variant was observed in the states of São Paulo and Bahia.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Rodenbusch
- Laboratory of Virology, Veterinary Medicine College, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 915640-000 RS, Brazil
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16
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Zwarg T, Rossi S, Sanches TC, Cesar MDO, Werneck MR, Matushima ER. Hematological and histopathological evaluation of wildlife green turtles (Chelonia mydas) with and without fibropapilloma from the north coast of São Paulo State, Brazil. PESQUISA VETERINARIA BRASILEIRA 2014. [DOI: 10.1590/s0100-736x2014000700013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Blood profiles were determined in 47 juvenile green turtles, Chelonia mydas, from São Paulo northern coast, Brazil. Twenty-nine were affected by fibropapillomas and 18 were tumor free. Complete gross and histopathologic examinations of the fibropapillo were performed in 21 green turtles. Biometrical data, size, location and amount of tumors were recorded. The papillomas varied in morphology, location, size, color and texture. We found hyperplastic stroma, rich in blood vessels and connective tissue with increase in thickness of the dermis. The tumors w0ere classified as papillomas or fibropapillomas according to their epithelial and/or stromal proliferation. The lowest Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (HCM) values were observed in affected turtles.
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17
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Whiting SD, Guinea ML, Fomiatti K, Flint M, Limpus CJ. Plasma biochemical and PCV ranges for healthy, wild, immature hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles. Vet Rec 2014; 174:608. [PMID: 24675772 DOI: 10.1136/vr.101396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the use of blood chemistry as a diagnostic tool for sea turtles has been demonstrated, but much of its effectiveness relies on reference intervals. The first comprehensive blood chemistry values for healthy wild hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles are presented. Nineteen blood chemistry analytes and packed cell volume were analysed for 40 clinically healthy juvenile hawksbill sea turtles captured from a rocky reef habitat in northern Australia. We used four statistical approaches to calculate reference intervals and to investigate their use with non-normal distributions and small sample sizes, and to compare upper and lower limits between methods. Eleven analytes were correlated with curved carapace length indicating that body size should be considered when designing future studies and interpreting analyte values.
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Affiliation(s)
- S D Whiting
- Faculty of Engineering, Health, Science and Environment, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia
| | - M L Guinea
- Faculty of Engineering, Health, Science and Environment, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
| | - K Fomiatti
- Department of Business, Berrimah Farm, Industry and Resource Development, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - M Flint
- Teaching and Investigation unit, Veterinary-Marine Animal Research, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Queensland 4343, QLD, Australia
| | - C J Limpus
- Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, PO Box 2454 Brisbane City, Brisance, QLD 4001 (Limpus), Australia
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18
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Page-Karjian A, Torres F, Zhang J, Rivera S, Diez C, Moore PA, Moore D, Brown C. Presence of chelonid fibropapilloma-associated herpesvirus in tumored and non-tumored green turtles, as detected by polymerase chain reaction, in endemic and non-endemic aggregations, Puerto Rico. SPRINGERPLUS 2012; 1:35. [PMID: 23961364 PMCID: PMC3725908 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-1-35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2012] [Accepted: 10/05/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Fibropapillomatosis (FP), a transmissible neoplastic disease of marine turtles characterized by a likely herpesviral primary etiology, has emerged as an important disease in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) over the past three decades. The objectives of this study were to determine the suitability of three different chelonid fibropapilloma-associated herpesvirus (CFPHV) gene targets in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of affected tissues; to explore the presence of CFPHV in non-affected skin from turtles with and without tumors; and to better understand tissue localization of the CFPHV genome in a tumor-free turtle by evaluating CFPHV presence in microanatomic tissue sites. Two aggregations of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Puerto Rico were evaluated, with six sampling intervals over the three-year period 2004–2007. Primary and nested PCR for three different herpesviral gene targets- DNA polymerase, capsid maturation protease, and membrane glycoprotein B- were performed on 201 skin biopsies taken from 126 turtles with and without external tumors. Laser capture microdissection and nested PCR were used to identify tissue localizations of CFPHV in skin from a normal turtle. Of the turtles sampled in Manglar Bay, 30.5% had tumors; at the relatively more pristine Culebrita, 5.3% of turtles sampled had tumors. All three PCR primer combinations successfully amplified CFPHV from tumors, and from normal skin of both tumored and tumor-free turtles. Via nested PCR, the polymerase gene target proved superior to the other two gene targets in the positive detection of CFPHV DNA. CFPHV infection may be common relative to disease incidence, supporting the idea that extrinsic and/or host factors could play a transforming role in tumor expression. Laser capture microdissection revealed CFPHV in skin from a tumor-free turtle, harbored in both epidermal and dermal tissues. Identification of CFPHV harbored in a non-epidermal site (dermis) of a tumor-free turtle indicates that virus is latent in a non-tumored host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Page-Karjian
- Department of Pathology, University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA 30602 USA
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19
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Cutaneous fibroma in a captive common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). J Comp Pathol 2012; 147:574-6. [PMID: 22578330 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2012.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Revised: 03/03/2012] [Accepted: 03/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
An adult female common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) had a mass on the plantar surface of the right forelimb that was removed surgically. Microscopical examination revealed many spindle cells with mild anisocytosis and anisokaryosis and a surrounding collagenous stroma. There were no mitoses. Immunohistochemistry showed that the spindle cells expressed vimentin, but not desmin. A diagnosis of cutaneous fibroma was made. Tumours are reported uncommonly in chelonian species. Cutaneous fibroma has been diagnosed in an alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), but not previously in a common snapping turtle.
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20
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Honarvar S, Brodsky MC, Fitzgerald DB, Rosenthal KL, Hearn GW. Changes in Plasma Chemistry and Reproductive Output of Nesting Leatherbacks. HERPETOLOGICA 2011. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-10-00061.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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21
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Fazio E, Liotta A, Medica P, Giacoppo E, Ferlazzo A. Effects of different health status on blood haematochemical values of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s00580-010-1070-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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22
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Flint M, Patterson-Kane JC, Limpus CJ, Work TM, Blair D, Mills PC. Postmortem diagnostic investigation of disease in free-ranging marine turtle populations: a review of common pathologic findings and protocols. J Vet Diagn Invest 2010; 21:733-59. [PMID: 19901275 DOI: 10.1177/104063870902100601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, there have been increasing numbers of reports of diseases in marine turtles. Furthermore, in recent years, there have been documented instances of apparently new diseases emerging in these species of which the etiology and/or pathogenesis remain unknown. These instances i) raise concern for the survival of marine turtles, and ii) question the health and stability of the benthic marine environments in which turtles live. Knowledge of common disease processes and pathologic changes in lesions, along with a standardized approach to postmortem and sample collection are required to document and understand the host-agent-environment interactions in marine turtle health. This review combines, for the first time, a standardized approach to the postmortem of marine turtles for veterinary clinicians, with a concurrent descriptive review of the gross and microscopic pathologic changes in lesions commonly seen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Flint
- Vet-MARTI, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
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23
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Flint M, Limpus CJ, Patterson-Kane JC, Murray PJ, Mills PC. Corneal fibropapillomatosis in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Australia. J Comp Pathol 2009; 142:341-6. [PMID: 19954789 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2009.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2009] [Revised: 07/24/2009] [Accepted: 10/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Chelonid corneal fibropapillomatosis has not previously been recorded in Australian waters. During 2008, 724 green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) were examined in Queensland, Australia at two sites, Moreton Bay (n=155) and Shoalwater Bay (n=569), during annual monitoring. In the same calendar year, 63 turtles were submitted from various sites in southern Queensland for post-mortem examination at the University of Queensland. Four of the 787 animals (0.5%) were found to have corneal fibropapillomas of varying size, with similar gross and microscopical features to those reported in other parts of the world. Two animals with corneal fibropapillomas also had cutaneous fibropapillomas. Clinical assessment indicated that these lesions had detrimental effects on the vision of the turtles and therefore their potential ability to source food, avoid predators and interact with conspecifics. Importantly, these findings represent an emergence of this manifestation of fibropapillomatosis in green sea turtle populations in the southern Pacific Ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Flint
- Veterinary-Marine Animal Research, Teaching and Investigation (Vet-MARTI) Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia.
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Abstract
Many, if not all, marine turtle populations world-wide have become seriously depleted by the impact of numerous factors over the years. Populations of marine turtles are now classified as endangered or threatened. National and international legislation designed to protect sea turtles has been unsuccessful and, despite evergrowing interest, there is disturbing evidence of new and increasingly important threats: increased incidence of disease; oil and organochlorine contamination and marine ‘macro-pollution’.
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Day RD, Segars AL, Arendt MD, Lee AM, Peden-Adams MM. Relationship of blood mercury levels to health parameters in the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2007; 115:1421-8. [PMID: 17938730 PMCID: PMC2022655 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.9918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2006] [Accepted: 07/11/2007] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mercury is a pervasive environmental pollutant whose toxic effects have not been studied in sea turtles in spite of their threatened status and evidence of immunosuppression in diseased populations. OBJECTIVES In the present study we investigate mercury toxicity in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) by examining trends between blood mercury concentrations and various health parameters. METHODS Blood was collected from free-ranging turtles, and correlations between blood mercury concentrations and plasma chemistries, complete blood counts, lysozyme, and lymphocyte proliferation were examined. Lymphocytes were also harvested from free-ranging turtles and exposed in vitro to methylmercury to assess proliferative responses. RESULTS Blood mercury concentrations were positively correlated with hematocrit and creatine phosphokinase activity, and negatively correlated with lymphocyte cell counts and aspartate amino-transferase. Ex vivo negative correlations between blood mercury concentrations and B-cell proliferation were observed in 2001 and 2003 under optimal assay conditions. In vitro exposure of peripheral blood leukocytes to methylmercury resulted in suppression of proliferative responses for B cells (0.1 microg/g and 0.35 microg/g) and T cells (0.7 microg/g). CONCLUSIONS The positive correlation between blood mercury concentration and hematocrit reflects the higher affinity of mercury species for erythrocytes than plasma, and demonstrates the importance of measuring hematocrit when analyzing whole blood for mercury. In vitro immunosuppression occurred at methylmercury concentrations that correspond to approximately 5% of the individuals captured in the wild. This observation and the negative correlation found ex vivo between mercury and lymphocyte numbers and mercury and B-cell proliferative responses suggests that subtle negative impacts of mercury on sea turtle immune function are possible at concentrations observed in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rusty D Day
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, USA.
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26
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Blood chemistry reference values for two ecologically distinct populations of foraging green turtles, eastern Indian Ocean. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s00580-006-0646-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Abstract
The class of Reptilia varies widely. Both the gross morphology and microscopic anatomy of the kidneys are specific for each species. In each species of reptile, the physiology of the renal system has adapted to the specific conditions of life, including, among other factors, the type of food, environmental temperature, and the availability of water. The pathology of the kidneys in reptiles has been poorly studied, but in recent years a number of investigators have specifically studied reptilian renal pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peernel Zwart
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, State University, Yalelaan 1, 358CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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29
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Garner MM, Hernandez-Divers SM, Raymond JT. Reptile neoplasia: a retrospective study of case submissions to a specialty diagnostic service. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2004; 7:653-71, vi. [PMID: 15296868 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2004.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
This retrospective study appears to be the largest publication to date regarding the prevalence of neoplasia in reptiles. As in previous publications, neoplasia is most common in snakes, followed by lizards, chelonians, and crocodilians. Several interesting trends were documented in this study, some of which appear to be previously unidentified, and some that support the findings of previous publications.
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Quackenbush SL, Casey RN, Murcek RJ, Paul TA, Work TM, Limpus CJ, Chaves A, duToit L, Perez JV, Aguirre AA, Spraker TR, Horrocks JA, Vermeer LA, Balazs GH, Casey JW. Quantitative analysis of herpesvirus sequences from normal tissue and fibropapillomas of marine turtles with real-time PCR. Virology 2001; 287:105-11. [PMID: 11504546 DOI: 10.1006/viro.2001.1023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Quantitative real-time PCR has been used to measure fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpesvirus (FPTHV) pol DNA loads in fibropapillomas, fibromas, and uninvolved tissues of green, loggerhead, and olive ridley turtles from Hawaii, Florida, Costa Rica, Australia, Mexico, and the West Indies. The viral DNA loads from tumors obtained from terminal animals were relatively homogeneous (range 2-20 copies/cell), whereas DNA copy numbers from biopsied tumors and skin of otherwise healthy turtles displayed a wide variation (range 0.001-170 copies/cell) and may reflect the stage of tumor development. FPTHV DNA loads in tumors were 2.5-4.5 logs higher than in uninvolved skin from the same animal regardless of geographic location, further implying a role for FPTHV in the etiology of fibropapillomatosis. Although FPTHV pol sequences amplified from tumors are highly related to each other, single signature amino acid substitutions distinguish the Australia/Hawaii, Mexico/Costa Rica, and Florida/Caribbean groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Quackenbush
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-2106, USA
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Yu Q, Hu N, Lu Y, Nerurkar VR, Yanagihara R. Rapid acquisition of entire DNA polymerase gene of a novel herpesvirus from green turtle fibropapilloma by a genomic walking technique. J Virol Methods 2001; 91:183-95. [PMID: 11164500 DOI: 10.1016/s0166-0934(00)00267-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A 4837-bp sequence of a newfound green turtle herpesvirus (GTHV), implicated in the etiology of green turtle fibropapilloma, was obtained from tumor tissues of a green turtle with fibropapilloma using a genomic walking method based on restriction enzyme digestion, self-ligation and inverse polymerase chain reaction (IPCR). The 4837-bp sequence was 56.23% G/C rich and contained three nonoverlapping open reading frames (ORF). The largest ORF (3507-bp) encoded the DNA polymerase gene (pol gene), which exhibited a high degree of homology at both amino acid and nucleotide levels with the DNA pol genes of human and animal herpesviruses, with a predicted protein of 1169 amino acids and molecular weight of 132.6 kilodaltons. The ATG at 518 to 520 was the first initiation codon in the ORF and was presumed to be the first methionine codon of the pol gene. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the amino acid sequence of the GTHV DNA pol gene and the corresponding regions of other known human and animal herpesviruses, indicated that GTHV belonged to the Alphaherpesvirinae subfamily. The upstream ORF of the pol gene encoded the N-terminal region of the GTHV homologue of the DNA-binding protein gene, whereas the downstream ORF was the C-terminal region of a gene which was homologous to ORFs conserved in human and animal herpesviruses, i.e., herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) gene UL31, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gene BFLF2, equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) gene 29, and alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AHV1) hypothetical protein 69 gene. The arrangement of these three genes in GTHV genome was identical to that seen in other alphaherpesviruses. The sequence and location of the DNA pol gene in the GTHV genome should greatly facilitate future studies of the viral life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Yu
- Retrovirology Research Laboratory, Pacific Biomedical Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA.
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Yu Q, Lu Y, Nerurkar VR, Yanagihara R. Studies on the Turtle Tumor Susceptibility Gene TSG101: Full-Length cDNA Sequence, Genomic Structural Analysis, and Role in Green Turtle Fibropapilloma. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC ANIMAL HEALTH 2000; 12:274-282. [PMID: 36530584 PMCID: PMC9757134 DOI: 10.1577/1548-8667(2000)012<0274:sottts>2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The tumor susceptibility gene TSG101 is a recently discovered gene whose functional knockout in mouse fibroblasts leads to transformation and tumor formation in nude mice. Human and mouse TSG101 cDNAs are 86% and 94% similar at the nucleotide and deduced amino acid levels, respectively. The highly conserved protein sequences suggest that the mouse and human TSG101 are true gene homologs that share fundamental biological functions. Here, we report that the turtle TSG101 full-length cDNA sequence contained a 1,176-base-pair open translational reading frame predicted to encode a 392-amino-acid protein. Alignment of TSG101 sequences showed that the turtle cDNA sequence was 82.3% and 84.4% similar to mouse and human TSG101, respectively, at the nucleotide level and 89.3% and 91.9% similar to mouse and human TSG101 proteins, respectively. A coiled-coil domain and a proline-rich region typical of the activation domain of transcription factors were highly conserved among the turtle, mouse, and human TSG101. The leucine zipper motifs in the coiled-coil domains of turtle, mouse, and human TSG101 proteins were identical. Expression of TSG101 was observed in all turtle organs examined. The role of TSG101 in green turtle fibropapilloma (GTFP) was investigated by performing reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on RNA derived from various turtle tumor tissues and tumor cell lines. No transcript abnormalities of turtle TSG101 were found in all examined GTFP samples (10 GTFP tumor tissues and 2 GTFP tumor cell lines) from RT-PCR products. Future study will analyze the difference in turtle TSG101 expressions between GTFP and the corresponding normal tissue. In mammalian systems, TSG101 productions outside of a narrow range, either overexpression or deficiency, can lead to abnormal cell growth. It needs to be clarified whether turtle TSG101 in GTFP is up or down regulated.
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Naganobu K, Ogawa H, Oyadomari N, Sugimoto M. Surgical repair of a depressed fracture in a green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas. J Vet Med Sci 2000; 62:103-4. [PMID: 10676899 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.62.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea turtles are considered to be endangered species. A depressed fracture of a 35 kg green sea turtle was treated surgically. Isoflurane was used for induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Slow induction of and slow recovery from anesthesia was remarkable. After the operation, there was an improvement of general status, but head tilt and weakness of the left limbs persisted. As the turtle did not eat, force feeding using stomach tube was performed. The turtle died at about 6 months after the surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Naganobu
- Department of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Miyazaki University, Japan
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Herbst LH, Jacobson ER, Klein PA, Balazs GH, Moretti R, Brown T, Sundberg JP. Comparative pathology and pathogenesis of spontaneous and experimentally induced fibropapillomas of green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Vet Pathol 1999; 36:551-64. [PMID: 10568436 DOI: 10.1354/vp.36-6-551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Tumor biopsy samples from 25 Floridian and 15 Hawaiian green turtles (Chelonia mydas) with spontaneous green turtle fibropapillomatosis (GTFP) and from 27 captive-reared green turtles with experimentally induced GTFP were examined microscopically to differentiate the histologic features that result from GTFP pathogenesis and those that result from incidental factors that may vary according to geographic region. Common histologic features for spontaneous and experimentally induced tumors included fibroblast proliferation in the superficial dermis, epidermal acanthosis and hyperkeratosis, epidermal basal cell degeneration with dermal-epidermal cleft formation, spinous layer degeneration with intraepidermal vesicle and pustule formation, and ulceration. Visceral tumors, found in eight of 10 (80%) free-ranging turtles with cutaneous disease that were examined after death, had extensive interstitial fibrous proliferation. The presence of spirorchid trematode eggs and associated foreign body granulomas, common secondary findings within spontaneous tumors, varied by geographic location, and these findings were not observed in experimentally induced tumors. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions and intranuclear herpesvirus-associated antigen immunoreactivity were found in 18 of 38 (47%) experimentally induced cutaneous tumors and nine of 119 (7.5%) spontaneous tumors from Floridian but not Hawaiian turtles. The possible involvement of GTFP-associated herpesvirus in the pathogenesis of epidermal degenerative changes and GTFP pathogenesis is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L H Herbst
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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36
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Normal blood chemistry of free-living green sea turtles,Chelonia mydas, from the United Arab Emirates. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02642510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Quackenbush SL, Work TM, Balazs GH, Casey RN, Rovnak J, Chaves A, duToit L, Baines JD, Parrish CR, Bowser PR, Casey JW. Three closely related herpesviruses are associated with fibropapillomatosis in marine turtles. Virology 1998; 246:392-9. [PMID: 9657957 DOI: 10.1006/viro.1998.9207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Green turtle fibropapillomatosis is a neoplastic disease of increasingly significant threat to the survivability of this species. Degenerate PCR primers that target highly conserved regions of genes encoding herpesvirus DNA polymerases were used to amplify a DNA sequence from fibropapillomas and fibromas from Hawaiian and Florida green turtles. All of the tumors tested (n = 23) were found to harbor viral DNA, whereas no viral DNA was detected in skin biopsies from tumor-negative turtles. The tissue distribution of the green turtle herpesvirus appears to be generally limited to tumors where viral DNA was found to accumulate at approximately two to five copies per cell and is occasionally detected, only by PCR, in some tissues normally associated with tumor development. In addition, herpesviral DNA was detected in fibropapillomas from two loggerhead and four olive ridley turtles. Nucleotide sequencing of a 483-bp fragment of the turtle herpesvirus DNA polymerase gene determined that the Florida green turtle and loggerhead turtle sequences are identical and differ from the Hawaiian green turtle sequence by five nucleotide changes, which results in two amino acid substitutions. The olive ridley sequence differs from the Florida and Hawaiian green turtle sequences by 15 and 16 nucleotide changes, respectively, resulting in four amino acid substitutions, three of which are unique to the olive ridley sequence. Our data suggest that these closely related turtle herpesviruses are intimately involved in the genesis of fibropapillomatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Quackenbush
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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Normal haematology of free-living green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the United Arab Emirates. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02642499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Adnyana W, Ladds PW, Blair D. Observations of fibropapillomatosis in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Indonesia. Aust Vet J 1997; 75:736-42. [PMID: 9406633 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1997.tb12258.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and manifestations of fibropapillomatosis in green turtles in Indonesia, to identify any relationship between fibropapillomatosis and concurrent parasitic infection, to ascertain the effect of fibropapillomatosis on health, and to examine whether environment might have an effect on the prevalence of fibropapillomatosis. PROCEDURE 4407 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 401 hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) were examined. The occurrence of fibropapillomatosis was correlated with sex, maturity, curved carapace length, body weight/curved carapace length ratio, the number and distribution of tumours on the skin, parasite burdens, some haematological variables and the region of capture. RESULTS Fibropapillomatosis was seen only in green turtles, and the overall prevalence in these was 21.5%. This prevalence increased with the curved carapace length up to 85 cm. The average number of tumours per affected turtle was 5 +/- SD 4.1 (range, 1 to 29), and was negatively correlated with the body weight/curved carapace length ratio (rs = -0.8; P = 0.001). The red blood cell count in turtles with fibropapilloma was lower than in non-fibropapilloma turtles captured and examined at the same time (P = 0.001). The prevalence of fibropapilloma in turtles captured near densely populated, industrial regions (26.3%) was greater than in turtles from sparsely populated areas (17.7%). CONCLUSION Fibropapillomatosis in green sea turtles in Indonesia is of moderate occurrence: young mature turtles (curved carapace length = 85 cm) are most frequently affected. Fibropapilloma adversely affects health of turtles. Fluke infestation seems not to be a causal factor, but viral infection, perhaps with concurrent stress of environmental origin, seems likely.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Adnyana
- James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland
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