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Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

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DAO is a hybrid research journal on all aspects of disease phenomena in aquatic organisms.

Online: ISSN 1616-1580

Print: ISSN 0177-5103

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao

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Volume contents
Dis Aquat Org 111:207-217 (2014)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao02782

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Fibropapillomatosis in green turtles Chelonia mydas in Brazil: characteristics of tumors and virus

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.

KEYWORDS

Green turtle Chelonia mydas Fibropapillomatosis Chelonid herpesvirus 5 Real-time PCR Genotyping

C. R. Rodenbusch (Corresponding Author)

  • Laboratory of Virology, Veterinary Medicine College, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 915640-000 RS, Brazil
carlarodenbusch@yahoo.com.br

C. Baptistotte (Co-author)

  • Projeto TAMAR/ICMBio—Av. Paulino Muller 1111, Vitória, 29040-715 ES, Brazil

M. R. Werneck (Co-author)

  • Bw Consultoria Veterinária—R. Ponciano Eugênio Duarte 203, Ubatuba, 11680-000 SP, Brazil

T. T. Pires (Co-author)

  • Fundação Pro-Tamar—Rua Rubens Guelli 134 / 307, Salvador, 41815-135 BA, Brazil

M. T. D. Melo (Co-author)

  • Fundação Pro-Tamar—Acesso Projeto TAMAR 151, Almofala, 62592-000 CE, Brazil

M. W. de Ataíde (Co-author)

  • Veterinary Medicine Hospital, Veterinary Medicine College, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 91540-000 RS, Brazil

K. D. H. L. dos Reis (Co-author)

  • Veterinary Medicine Hospital, Veterinary Medicine College, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 91540-000 RS, Brazil

P. Testa (Co-author)

  • Laboratory of Virology, Veterinary Medicine College, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 915640-000 RS, Brazil

M. M. Alieve (Co-author)

  • Veterinary Medicine Hospital, Veterinary Medicine College, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, Porto Alegre, 91540-000 RS, Brazil

C. W. Canal (Co-author)

  • 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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