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Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 DNA in Fibropapillomatosis-Affected Chelonia mydas

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Abstract

Fibropapillomatosis is a panzootic and chronic disease among Chelonia mydas—usually associated with anthropogenic impacts. This study contributes towards understanding fibropapillomatosis implications for C. mydas populations as a reflector of environmental quality, via prevalence and histological, molecular and blood analyses at a World Heritage site in southern Brazil. Sixty-three juvenile C. mydas (31.3–54.5 cm curved carapace length–CCL) were sampled during two years. Eighteen specimens (~ 29%) had tumours (which were biopsied), while 45 had none. Degenerative changes in the epidermis and Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 DNA detection with three variants support a herpesvirus infection. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that variants A and B were similar to a herpesvirus lineage from the Atlantic group, but variant C was similar to a herpesvirus from the eastern Pacific lineage and represents the first published case for marine turtles off Brazil. Significantly lower levels of seven blood parameters, but greater numbers of eosinophils, were observed in tumour-afflicted animals. These observations were attributed to metabolism efficiencies and/or differences in diet associated with temporal-recruitment bias and disease development, and greater non-specific immune stimulation. While most animals had adequate body condition independent of disease, longer-term studies are required to elucidate any protracted population effects.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the research team from LEC/UFPR, Associação MarBrasil, Fundação Pró-Tamar, Karumbe, especially Daniel Gonzalez, Gabriela Velez-Rubio, Gustavo Martinez Souza and Ignacio Bruno, for their assistance with C. mydas sampling, and Alcides Branco, Daniela Nóbrega and Giovana Balarin for laboratory assistance. Dr. Thierry Work is thanked for reviewing an earlier draft of the paper and for his helpful discussions.

Funding

This study was funded by Petrobras (REBIMAR), Fundação Araucária/ Fundação Grupo Boticário (Projeto ProTartas), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior grant (99999.005563/2014-03) and Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico grant (302816/2014-3).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Patologia Animal, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR 445 km 380, Londrina, Paraná, CEP 86057-970, Brazil

    Isabela G. Domiciano & Ana Paula F. R. L. Bracarense

  2. Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Centro de Estudos do Mar, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil

    Isabela G. Domiciano & Camila Domit

  3. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Conservation Technology Unit, National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia

    Matt K. Broadhurst

  4. Marine and Estuarine Ecology Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Matt K. Broadhurst

  5. Associação MarBrasil – ONG, Pontal do Paraná, Paraná, Brazil

    Camila Domit

  6. Laboratório de Patologia Clínica, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

    Karina K. M. C. Flaiban

  7. Fundação Pró-Tamar, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Daphne W. Goldberg

  8. Laboratório de Virologia Animal, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

    Juliana T. T. Fritzen

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  1. Isabela G. Domiciano
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  2. Matt K. Broadhurst
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Correspondence to Ana Paula F. R. L. Bracarense.

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Domiciano, I.G., Broadhurst, M.K., Domit, C. et al. Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 DNA in Fibropapillomatosis-Affected Chelonia mydas. EcoHealth 16, 248–259 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-019-01412-8

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