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The number of reptilian viruses detected are continuously increasing due to improvements and developments of new diagnostic techniques. In this case we used primary cell culture and qPCR to describe the first Australian Chelonia mydas papillomavirus. Commercial chelonian cell lines are limited to one cell line from a terrestrial turtle (Terrapene Carolina). To establish primary cultures from green turtles (Chelonia mydas), turtle eggs were collected from Heron Island, Queensland, Australia. From day 35 of incubation at 29°, the embryos were harvested to establish primary cultures. The primary cell cultures were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium, 90% and foetal bovine serum, 10%. The cells became uniformly fibroblastic-shaped after 15 passages. The growth rate resembled that of cells originating from other cold-blooded animals and the average doubling time was ∼5 days from the 20th passage. Karyotyping and molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA D-loop gene were carried out for cell authentication. The primary cell cultures were screened to exclude mycoplasma contamination. Two primary cell lineages were found to be susceptible to Bohle iridovirus. The primary cell cultures were used to screen samples from green turtles foraging along the East Coast of Queensland for the presence of viruses. Homogenates from eight skin tumour samples caused cytopathic effects and were confirmed by qPCR to be infected with papillomavirus., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A capture antibody ELISA was developed for detecting antibodies against bovine enterovirus. Chicken IgG F(ab')2 fragments against strain J2129 captured virus effectively. The captured virus was used to detect specific antibodies against the virus in bovine sera. The specificity of the ELISA is high. The factors affecting the specificity are discussed. The assay is more sensitive and economic than traditional serum neutralisation.