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Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating tumoral disease affecting sea turtles worldwide. While mainly afflicting immature individuals and potentially altering vital functions, the precise impact of this panzootic on turtle health and survival remains unclear. Moreover, the etiological factors implicated in the FP emergence, development and transmission are not yet definitively identified. Among them, an infection by a spreading herpesvirus and the contamination by pollutants (either organic pollutants and trace elements) are suspected. Here, we provide an overview of discoveries, knowledge and propose hypotheses related to FP within five key FP research areas, i.e., virology studies, transmission studies, contamination studies, host genomic studies, and veterinary treatment assays. Moreover, we recommend urgent research avenues to develop at the interface of virology, epidemiology, ecotoxicology, oncology, physiology, immunology, cellular and evolutionary biology, in order to characterize the dynamics of FP and to predict its consequences on sea turtle populations. Importantly, extending the implementation and development of strong collaborations between rehabilitation centers, field biologists and research laboratories at large geographical scale is required to rapidly increase our knowledge on FP and work towards its effective management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating tumoral disease affecting sea turtles worldwide. While mainly afflicting immature individuals and potentially altering vital functions, the precise impact of this panzootic on turtle health and survival remains unclear. Moreover, the etiological factors implicated in the FP emergence, development and transmission are not yet definitively identified. Among them, an infection by a spreading herpesvirus and the contamination by pollutants (either organic pollutants and trace elements) are suspected. Here, we provide an overview of discoveries, knowledge and propose hypotheses related to FP within five key FP research areas, i.e., virology studies, transmission studies, contamination studies, host genomic studies, and veterinary treatment assays. Moreover, we recommend urgent research avenues to develop at the interface of virology, epidemiology, ecotoxicology, oncology, physiology, immunology, cellular and evolutionary biology, in order to characterize the dynamics of FP and to predict its consequences on sea turtle populations. Importantly, extending the implementation and development of strong collaborations between rehabilitation centers, field biologists and research laboratories at large geographical scale is required to rapidly increase our knowledge on FP and work towards its effective management.

Sea turtles spend most of their life cycle in foraging grounds. Research in developmental habitats is crucial to understanding individual dynamics and to support conservation strategies. One approach to gather information in foraging grounds is the use of cost-effective and non-invasive techniques that allow public participation. The present study aimed to use photographic-identification (photo-ID) to investigate the spatio-temporal distribution of Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys imbricata. Furthermore, we describe fibropapillomatosis occurrence. This work was carried out at subtropical rocky reefs of the Brazilian coast in Arraial do Cabo (22°57ʹS, 42°01ʹW), within a sustainable conservation unit. A total of 641 images were obtained through social media screening (n = 447), citizen science (n = 168), or intentional capture (n = 26) dated between 2006 and 2021. Additionally, 19 diving forms (between 2019 and 2021) were received from citizen scientists. All diving forms presented at least one turtle. Photo-ID identified 174 individuals of C. mydas, with 45 being resighted, while E. imbricata had 32 individuals, with 7 individuals resighted. The median interval between the first and last individual sighting was 1.7 years for C. mydas and 2.4 years for E. imbricata. Fibropapillomatosis was only observed in C. mydas, with a prevalence of 13.99% (20 of 143 individuals) and regression in 2 individuals (10.00%). Our results indicated that Arraial do Cabo is an important development area with individuals residing for at least 6 years. This study demonstrated that social media, along with photo-ID, can be useful to provide sea turtle estimates in a foraging ground using a non-invasive, low-cost method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are globally afflicted by a tumoral disease called fibropapillomatosis (FP). Affected turtles experience growth of tumors on various parts of their body, including skin tissue on the flippers and neck as well as in the eyes and mouth. Internal tumors also occur sometimes, for example, on heart, lungs, and kidneys. Since FP was first described in 1938, FP tumors have been categorized into two main morphological types: rugose and smooth tumors. Rugose tumors are characterized by papillose structures and a rough texture, while smooth tumors have a smoother and more even surface and texture. It has often been suggested in the literature that, while rugose tumors tend to show active growth, smooth tumors might be a sign of disease regression. However, this hypothesis warrants further verification. In our study, we tracked and compared the growth of rugose and smooth tumors across nine green turtles in rehabilitation at the University of Florida Whitney Laboratory Sea Turtle Hospital in St. Augustine, Florida. According to our findings, rugose FP tumors grow at significantly faster rates than smooth ones, but both FP tumor morphologies still show a general progression pattern. Our study is, to our knowledge, the first-ever assessment of growth-rate differences between smooth and rugose FP tumors and offers important preliminary data to answer a long-standing question in FP research. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea turtle in-water monitoring has been conducted in Diani-Chale National Marine Reserve (DCMR) in Kenya’s South Coast since 2018, where green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) may be found resting or foraging. Underwater surveys are conducted at a regular basis to collect data on sea turtle occurrence, abundance, and distribution, incorporating photographic identification (Photo-ID) as a capture-mark-recapture method. Photo-ID is a non-invasive, low-cost, citizen-science-friendly approach that allows researchers to obtain discrete information about individuals’ locations and health status at a given time, which is essential knowledge for spatial planning and conservation management of endangered species. When visible in the photos collected on a single individual, the occurrence of external tumours is noted, and the turtle is flagged for fibropapilloma (FP) monitoring. From July 2018 to December 2022, 2757 green turtle encounters were recorded, resulting in the identification of 571 individuals. External tumours were observed in 75 individuals. The temporal progression of the tumour’s growth was monitored through subsequent re-sightings of 47 of the affected individuals, with evidence of tumour progression and regression. Documenting the incidence of this disease on sea turtles usually involves the manipulation of captured animals, and is quite possibly under-documented in foraging grounds. Tracking the evolution of this disease using Photo-ID can be a useful, non-invasive method to understand its extent in foraging aggregations where turtles can be easily observed underwater.

Chelonia mydas (green turtles) are being threatened worldwide by fibropapillomatosis (FP), which has seriously affected their survival. The presence of FP on the body surface and visceral organs of green turtles found dead was confirmed, causing obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, changes in foraging behavior, and reduction of visceral functions. The etiology of FP has not yet been elucidated, and previous research generally considers that the occurrence of FP is related to the chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), associated with low animal immunity, and also with marine environmental factors, such as poor water quality and eutrophication. However, there is no evaluation on the induction of FP pathogenesis associated with the green turtle. In this study, we evaluated blood samples from green turtles with and without FP using de novo transcriptome assembly. Results indicated that 3,090 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (p < 0.05) were identified, including 1,357 upregulated genes and 1,733 downregulated genes in turtles with or without FP. We observed that DEGs, which are significantly upregulated, are found in cancer development, namely, MAPK1IP1L and APAF1. Furthermore, the infected green turtle indicated that the greater number of DEGs was contributed by the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, which can be activated through an endocytosis of the viral particle by the immune system cells, and the Wnt signaling pathway, which is believed to have played a role in FP tumorigenesis. We validated the more upregulated/downregulated DEGs in cancer development and immunization, and DEGs such as LEF1, BTRC, and FOSL1 participating in the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, as well as ERBIN, TRAF6, and NFKB1 in the Wnt signaling pathway, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Altogether, this study provided some genes as potential markers during FP infection and a further evidence of FP in endangered green turtles in Taiwan.

Simple Summary: Sea Turtles have a unique immune system, which evolved over millions of years in the persistent host-pathogen arms race. As this species occupies a unique evolutionary and environmental niche, they provide an opportunity to gain insight into the evolution of immunity. We present an overview of the turtle immune system, including the cells and organs important for coordinating the immune response to pathogens, with a focus on pathogen recognition and inflammatory mediators, including Interferons. We highlight areas for future study and note which studies have investigated freshwater turtles and are lacking in sea turtles. We particularly focus on the Green Sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) as the juvenile turtles within this species are the most afflicted by the neoplastic tumorous disease, fibropapillomatosis (FP). The immune system of sea turtles is not completely understood. Sea turtles (as reptiles) bridge a unique evolutionary gap, being ectothermic vertebrates like fish and amphibians and amniotes like birds and mammals. Turtles are ectotherms; thus, their immune system is influenced by environmental conditions like temperature and season. We aim to review the turtle immune system and note what studies have investigated sea turtles and the effect of the environment on the immune response. Turtles rely heavily on the nonspecific innate response rather than the specific adaptive response. Turtles' innate immune effectors include antimicrobial peptides, complement, and nonspecific leukocytes. The antiviral defense is understudied in terms of the diversity of pathogen receptors and interferon function. Turtles also mount adaptive responses to pathogens. Lymphoid structures responsible for lymphocyte activation and maturation are either missing in reptiles or function is affected by season. Turtles are a marker of health for their marine environment, and their immune system is commonly dysregulated because of disease or contaminants. Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumorous disease that afflicts sea turtles and is thought to be caused by a virus and an environmental factor. We aim, by exploring the current understanding of the immune system in turtles, to aid the investigation of environmental factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease and provide options for immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Sea turtles worldwide are infected by a virus known as chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), which causes fibropapillomatosis (FP). Prior to the pandemic lockdown, we conducted field sampling of 69 sea turtles in the pristine waters of Mabul Island, a diving haven located in northern Borneo. Using a molecular-based approach, we determined that the prevalence of ChHV5 in green turtles showed an increase of 42.9% compared to the previous sampling conducted in 2015–2016. Furthermore, for the first time, infection of ChHV5 in hawksbill and olive ridley turtles was also recorded in Borneo. The increased prevalence of ChHV5 should be considered as a possible threat, and efforts should be taken to mitigate the spread of the infection among sea turtles of Mabul Island and surrounding islands. Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating tumor disease affecting all species of sea turtles globally. The most probable etiological agent for FP is the chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5). A 2015–2016 field survey of the sea turtles at Mabul Island, Sabah, Malaysia, found three green turtles (Chelonia mydas) with FP tumors. However, the presence of ChHV5 was confirmed in 7.8% (9/115) green turtles and was absent (0/16) in the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) turtles, as determined through molecular approaches. Subsequent to this, we managed to conduct field sampling of sea turtles in November 2019, just prior to the pandemic lockdown. Here, we aim to determine the extent of ChHV5 infection, and whether the virus has spread to other species of sea turtles around Mabul Island after the first reports of ChHV5 and FP. A total of 69 tissue samples were obtained from green (63), hawksbill (5), and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) (1) turtles in November 2019. We observed only one green turtle that exhibited FP tumors. To determine the presence of ChHV5, viral DNA was isolated from all the tissue samples, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis targeting three highly conserved regions of the virus, i.e., the capsid protein gene, glycoprotein H gene, and glycoprotein B gene, was performed. Out of 63 green turtles, 27 were positive for the presence of the virus. The prevalence of ChHV5 in the green turtles showed an increase of 42.9% as compared to the previous sampling conducted in 2015–2016. Additionally, for the first time, three out of the five hawksbill turtles, and one olive ridley turtle, were also PCR-positive for the virus. In conclusion, this study reveals that there has been an increase in ChHV5 infection among turtles in Mabul Island over the last 3 years. ChHV5 should be considered a potential threat, and mitigation efforts should be taken to prevent the spread of infection among the endangered sea turtles of Mabul Island and surrounding islands within the Coral Triangle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of sea turtle hatchlings to survive into adulthood is related, in part, to their individual health status. Documenting a variety of health data is essential for assessing individual and population health. In this study, we report health indices for 297 green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchlings that emerged from 32 nests deposited on Juno Beach, Florida, USA in June–July, 2017. Results of physical examination, morphometrics, and infectious disease testing (chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5, ChHV5), and blood analyte reference intervals (hematology, plasma protein, glucose) are presented. Carapacial scute abnormalities were observed in 36% (108/297) of all hatchlings, including abnormal vertebral (86/297, 29%), lateral (72/297, 24%), and both vertebral and lateral (50/297, 17%) scutes. Hatchlings from nests laid in July, which was ~ 1.6 °C warmer than June, had significantly shorter incubation periods, and higher body mass, straight carapace length, body condition index, packed cell volume, and heterophil:lymphocyte ratios compared to hatchlings from nests laid in June. These results suggest that incubation temperatures are linked to hatchling developmental factors and size, nutritional and/or hydration status, and/or blood cell dynamics. Blood samples from all 297 hatchlings tested negative for ChHV5 DNA via quantitative PCR, including 86 hatchlings from the nests of 11 adult females that tested positive for ChHV5 via qPCR or serology in a separate study, lending support to the hypothesis that ChHV5 is horizontally (rather than vertically) transmitted among green turtles. Information resulting from this study represents a useful dataset for comparison to future health assessment and population monitoring studies of green turtle hatchlings in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor‐forming disease which affects all species of marine turtle, but predominantly the green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Expression of this disease is thought to be precipitated by poor environmental conditions and often linked to anthropogenically induced environmental changes. Although FP is a globally distributed disease, targeted studies on the spatial distribution of the disease in Australia are limited. Here, we present the first comprehensive report of FP prevalence in Queensland, Australia. A retrospective analysis of 25,645 capture records for 15 sites along the Queensland coast were used to determine FP prevalence and trends in foraging green turtles. Within this data set, 791 turtles (3.1%) with FP tumors were recorded. Our analysis showed that prevalence varies between sites and years, with juvenile turtles being the most frequently affected by the disease. We found that survey method has a significant influence on the apparent FP prevalence detected at each site. That is, surveys which were explicitly FP‐targeted detected higher numbers of individual turtles with FP, and therefore generated higher prevalence rates than comprehensive population surveys. We also report the first attempt at developing water quality indices (WQIs) to compare with FP prevalence data in foraging green turtles. The WQIs were built from metrics published in a range of peer‐reviewed papers, reports, and based on expert opinion. Despite utilizing an extensive data set, a relationship between FP prevalence and WQI rankings at each site could not be quantified. The analysis was confounded by a range of limitations, including data gaps, varying temporal scales and data capture methods in the FP prevalence, and water quality data sets. This study has significant implications for management as it highlights the benefits of designing and collecting centralized data that can be integrated and used across multiple projects or programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a debilitating neoplastic infectious disease that affects sea turtles globally. Researchers on the American continent have generated valuable information about FP that can serve as the current source of biological knowledge on the disease, but this information is scattered throughout many scientific journals, books, thesis, and conference proceedings. Through a systematic literature review, the present study intends to summarize the current state of knowledge available on the American continent and highlight the knowledge gaps regarding FP in sea turtles. We reviewed 192 studies published from 1938 to 2021 performed on the American continent. The maximum annual number of publications occurred in 2019 with 15 publications, and there is an increasing trend in studies published over the past 25 years. One hundred thirty studies were performed in North America, 43 in South America, 14 in the Caribbean region, and 5 in Central America. The USA, Brazil, and Mexico were the most productive countries for FP research. The main topics addressed were pathological findings, records/incidences of FP, and molecular characterization. The most studied species with FP is the green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Our results show a lack of geographical information about FP, particularly in the Central American region and the Pacific coast of South America. While there has been a significant increase in FP knowledge in the last two decades, most of the studies focused on pathological findings, while viral replication and transmission of this disease remains unknown, highlighting the need for studies that describe immune characteristics, stressful environmental conditions, or disorders in blood chemical values in organisms affected by FP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a sea turtle disease characterized by benign tumor development on the skin, eyes, and/or internal organs. It primarily affects juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in coastal foraging sites. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, USA, is a coastal green turtle foraging site where the observed FP annual rate averaged 49% between 1983 and 2018. While FP is no longer considered a major cause of sea turtle mortality and most individuals fully recover, the overall dynamics of this disease are poorly understood because prior disease history is unknown for individuals without FP at capture time, and future disease outcome is unknown for individuals with FP at capture time. To better evaluate FP dynamics for green turtles in the IRL, we developed a hierarchical model for predicting disease state change. We used data from 4149 captures of 3700 individual green turtles captured in the IRL. The hierarchical disease state model contained two levels: Level 1 modeled whether an individual would develop FP, and Level 2 modeled disease state progression, including states for pre‐FP affliction, active FP affliction, and full recovery from FP. From the hierarchical model, we estimated 99.8% (95% credibility intervals 99.1%–100%) of juvenile green turtles in the IRL developed FP, indicating that nearly every individual in the IRL is affected by this disease. The model also suggested that turtles quickly developed FP upon recruitment to the IRL and then recovered at different rates, with most completely recovering before emigrating from the IRL as they mature. This is the first analysis of long‐term sea turtle data suggesting nearly every turtle in an aggregation both develops and recovers from FP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly linked to emerging diseases that cause mortality across many taxa. Human interference arising from ecotourism, in particular, can increase the stress levels of wild populations and promote the spread of disease. In Akumal Bay, Mexico, green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are increasingly infected with fibropapillomatosis (FP), an infectious disease associated with stress‐induced immunosuppression linked to high human density, which is particularly high in this area because of the increasing number of tourists visiting all year round.To examine whether FP might be associated with behavioural indicators of stress and varying levels of tourist pressure, the behaviour of turtles and the number of tourists were observed through 20‐minute focal sampling periods from May to August 2017. Disease presence and tourist pressure were related to several aspects of turtle behaviour, specifically feeding, resting, vertical movements (i.e. surfacing and diving), and evasive responses.Turtles that had visible FP engaged in fewer feeding periods, vertical movements, and evasive responses. Additionally, with increasing tourist pressure, all turtles spent less time engaging in vertical movements and had more evasive responses. These results suggest that the presence of FP affects green sea turtle behaviour, potentially increasing their exposure to tourists.Sick and healthy turtles appear to react differently to tourists, suggesting that FP changes behavioural responses to tourist pressure. Future management strategies should consider regulating tourist pressure on sick animals to reduce the incidence and progression of FP and other wildlife diseases by limiting access to critical habitats and enforcing code‐of‐conduct compliance from visiting tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a sea turtle disease characterized by benign tumor development on the skin, eyes, and/or internal organs. It primarily affects juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in coastal foraging sites. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida, USA, is a coastal green turtle foraging site where the observed FP annual rate averaged 49% between 1983 and 2018. While FP is no longer considered a major cause of sea turtle mortality and most individuals fully recover, the overall dynamics of this disease are poorly understood because prior disease history is unknown for individuals without FP at capture time, and future disease outcome is unknown for individuals with FP at capture time. To better evaluate FP dynamics for green turtles in the IRL, we developed a hierarchical model for predicting disease state change. We used data from 4149 captures of 3700 individual green turtles captured in the IRL. The hierarchical disease state model contained two levels: Level 1 modeled whether an individual would develop FP, and Level 2 modeled disease state progression, including states for pre‐FP affliction, active FP affliction, and full recovery from FP. From the hierarchical model, we estimated 99.8% (95% credibility intervals 99.1%–100%) of juvenile green turtles in the IRL developed FP, indicating that nearly every individual in the IRL is affected by this disease. The model also suggested that turtles quickly developed FP upon recruitment to the IRL and then recovered at different rates, with most completely recovering before emigrating from the IRL as they mature. This is the first analysis of long‐term sea turtle data suggesting nearly every turtle in an aggregation both develops and recovers from FP.

Characterizing polymorphism at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes is key to understanding the vertebrate immune response to disease. Despite being globally afflicted by the infectious tumour disease fibropapillomatosis (FP), immunogenetic variation in sea turtles is minimally explored. We sequenced the α1 peptide-binding region of MHC class I genes (162 bp) from 268 juvenile green (Chelonia mydas) and 88 loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles in Florida, USA. We recovered extensive variation (116 alleles) and trans-species polymorphism. Supertyping analysis uncovered three functional MHC supertypes corresponding to the three well-supported clades in the phylogeny. We found significant evidence of positive selection at seven amino acid sites in the class I exon. Random forest modelling and risk ratio analysis of Ch. mydas alleles uncovered one allele weakly associated with smooth FP tumour texture, which may be associated with disease outcome. Our study represents the first characterization of MHC class I diversity in Ch. mydas and the largest sample of sea turtles used to date in any study of adaptive genetic variation, revealing tremendous genetic variation and high adaptive potential to viral pathogen threats. The novel associations we identified between MHC diversity and FP outcomes in sea turtles further highlight the importance of evaluating genetic predictors of disease, including MHC and other functional markers.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumorigenic panzootic disease of sea turtles, most common in green turtles (Chelonia mydas). FP is linked to the chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChAHV5) and to degraded habitats and, though benign, large tumours can hinder vital functions, causing death. We analyse 108 green turtles, captured in 2018 and 2019, at key foraging grounds in Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania, West Africa, for the presence of FP, and use real-time PCR to detect ChAHV5 DNA, in 76 individuals. The prevalence of FP was moderate; 33% in Guinea-Bissau (n = 36) and 28% in Mauritania (n = 72), and most turtles were mildly affected, possibly due to low human impact at study locations. Juveniles had higher FP prevalence (35%, n = 82) compared to subadults (5%, n = 21), probably because individuals acquire resistance over time. ChAHV5 DNA was detected in 83% (n = 24) of the tumour biopsies, consistent with its role as aetiological agent of FP and in 26% (n = 27) of the 'normal' skin (not showing lesions) from FP turtles. Notably, 45% of the asymptomatic turtles were positive for ChAHV5, supporting multifactorial disease expression. We report the first baselines of FP and ChAHV5 prevalence for West Africa green turtles, essential to assess evolution of disease and future impacts of anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Since the 1970s, several species of herpesviruses have been identified and associated with significant diseases in reptiles. Earlier discoveries placed these viruses into different taxonomic groups on the basis of morphological and biological characteristics, while advancements in molecular methods have led to more recent descriptions of novel reptilian herpesviruses, as well as providing insight into the phylogenetic relationship of these viruses. Herpesvirus infections in reptiles are often characterised by non-pathognomonic signs including stomatitis, encephalitis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis and proliferative lesions. With the exception of fibropapillomatosis in marine turtles, the absence of specific clinical signs has fostered misdiagnosis and underreporting of the actual disease burden in reptilian populations and hampered potential investigations that could lead to the effective control of these diseases. In addition, complex life histories, sampling bias and poor monitoring systems have limited the assessment of the impact of herpesvirus infections in wild populations and captive collections. Here we review the current published knowledge of the taxonomy, pathogenesis, pathology and epidemiology of reptilian herpesviruses.

Sea turtles tend to accumulate high metal levels in their tissues and are considered excellent pollution bioindicators. Studies concerning metal contamination in hatchlings, however, are non-existent for one of the most abundant species in Brazil, green sea turtles, while several other metal assessments in juvenile muscles are still scarce. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the concentrations of 12 elements in kidney and muscle samples from green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas; n = 24) found stranded in Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. Elemental concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The presence of fibropapillomatosis, an increasingly common disease in sea turtles which has been associated to metal contamination, was also evaluated. Most elements (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, and Pb) were significantly higher in liver, while Al and As were significantly higher in muscle tissue, indicating bioaccumulation of the latter two elements. No differences between juvenile male and female green turtles were observed for either liver or kidney concerning the investigated elements. Literature comparisons of studies conducted in other areas throughout the Brazilian coast indicate higher concentrations of Cd, Mn, As, Hg, and Zn in kidneys, of probable anthropogenic origin. Several statistically significant inter-elemental correlations were observed between toxic elements, indicating similar sources for these environmental contaminants. Significant correlations between Hg in muscle and kidney and As in the same organs suggest bioaccumulation of both elements in muscle. Three individuals assessed herein exhibited fibropapillomatosis, and further assessments in this regard and potential correlations to the detected metal concentrations are currently being carried out. In addition, evaluations concerning other toxic compounds, as well as deleterious cellular effects, are also underway, since total metal concentrations do not reflect total elemental bioavailability.

The Hawaiian population of green turtles ( Chelonia mydas ) has increased since Federal and State protections were implemented in the mid 1970s, and reported stranding events have also increased. This study analyzed Hawai'i Island data: stranding location, date, size, sex, presence/absence of tumors, stranding status, and cause of stranding. A total of 754 stranded green turtles was reported from 1983-2022: 379 stranded on the east (windward) coast of Hawai'i Island and 375 on the west (leeward) coast. Strandings peaked in 2011 and 2018 and were highest from March to August. The most common known cause of stranding was hook-and-line fishing gear (21.4% of total strandings), followed by fibropapillomatosis (7.2%), human take (4.4%), miscellaneous (3.7%), boat impact (3.3%), shark attack (3.2%), and net (2.1%); however, 54.8% of strandings had no known cause. Statistical modeling did not provide convincing evidence of temporal changes in the distribution of strandings across three consolidated cause categories: human-caused; predation, disease, and weather; and unknown. Stranded turtles on east Hawai'i Island had a higher frequency of fibropapillomatosis, whereas west Hawai'i stranded turtles showed higher incidence of shark attacks. These results provide the first comprehensive analyses of stranding data from Hawai'i Island and provide information that can inform resource managers, policy makers, and the public about the various types and magnitudes of impacts, anthropogenic and natural, to green turtles so that mitigation measures can be put into practice. Our findings allow for comparison with other green turtle populations worldwide.

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.

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a multifactorial, neoplastic and infectious disease that affects all sea turtle species, and Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) has been singled out as the primary etiological agent. This disease is mainly characterized by cutaneous tumors, but visceral fibromas, myxofibromas and fibrosarcomas have been also reported and can interfere with systemic functions. In spite of previous descriptions of visceral neoplasms in sea turtles from Hawaii and Florida, some of them infected by ChHV5, there are few reports of non-cutaneous tumors in Brazilian sea turtles. In order to fill this gap, we analyzed samples of internal neoplasms from four green turtles (Chelonia mydas) by histopathological and molecular techniques. Cutaneous neoplasms were quantified and classified according to their size and tumor score to determine the FP severity, and the presence of internal tumors was confirmed post-mortem via necropsy. Forty-eight cutaneous tumors (7-23 per individual) were found on sampled green turtles, and the FP severity was mild (2 individuals) and moderate (2 individuals). Visceral neoplasms were found in lung (n=4), heart (n=1), intestine (n=2), esophagus (n=1), stomach (n=1), liver (n=1), spleen (n=1), skeletal muscle (n=1) and kidney (n=2) and were classified as fibromas (n=47) and one as renal myxofibroma. We did not detect ChHV5 DNA in the esophageal, skeletal muscle, or hepatic fibromas. Our research brings a novel description of renal myxofibroma and ChHV5 infection in visceral neoplasms from green turtles in Brazil, improving our knowledge about the prevalence, anatomic localization, and severity of internal neoplasms associated with FP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Techniques for anesthesia of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are required for medical treatment. The use of spinal anesthesia has been reported in a few species of turtles for different purposes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of 2% lidocaine for spinal anesthesia of green sea turtles undergoing surgical removal of cutaneous fibropapillomas. Ten free-ranging green turtles presenting with cutaneous fibropapillomas were included in the study. Animals were accidentally captured or rescued by local fishermen and brought to the Ubatuba Research Base (Sao Paulo, Brazil) of the Brazilian Sea Turtle Conservation Program for rehabilitation. Animals were administered 2% lidocaine (0.2 ml/10 cm of carapace) in the epidural/subarachnoid space of the tail and monitored throughout surgery. The technique was effective for all animals, with fast onset of motor and sensory blockade (3 ± 1.76 min) and relatively fast recovery time (83.9 ± 16.2 min). Fibropapillomas were removed from all animals with no signs of pain (i.e., no behavioral response during surgical procedure, such as head and forelimb movement, showing discomfort) and they were all rehabilitated and successfully returned to their natural habitat. The technique was considered effective, safe, and affordable for use on green turtles undergoing surgical removal of cutaneous fibropapillomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is the primary etiological agent associated with fibropapillomatosis (FP), a neoplastic disease in marine turtles. In this study, we report for the first time ChHV5 in marine turtles and a leech from Baja California Peninsula. Eighty-seven black, olive or loggerhead turtle species, one FP tumor and five leeches were analyzed. The tumor sample from an olive, a skin sample from a black and a leech resulted positive of ChHV5 for conventional PCR. Two viral variants were identified and grouped within the Eastern Pacific phylogenetic group, suggesting a possible flow of the virus in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine turtles are long-living reptiles that have a complex lifestyle. They have their attendance all over the globe. The survival of turtles became pathetic due to various activities of human development exercises. Now, on the other hand, emerging diseases came to the platform. Disease indications are alarmingly high in the coastal belts where human activities are higher. Herpesviridae family members are the topmost pathogenic agents that are disturbing the survival of these long-living animals. There are a total of five herpesviruses that are associated with diseases in sea turtles. Fibropapillomatosis is a catastrophic disease caused by herpesviruses, leading to characteristic tumors over the smooth surfaces of the body. Disease had turned out to be an upcoming invader for the marine turtle’s community. The occurrence and hurting potential of the disease depends upon several environmental factors. The current paper provides an evidence of how a simple disease had changed to the burning issue by the influence of adulterated environment during evolution; and a broad overview, clinical marks, and histological studies of remaining reported diseases of herpesvirus in sea turtles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A male Holstein-Friesian calf was born with multiple, cauliflower-like, pale pink cutaneous masses on the head and limbs. On histopathological examination, the cutaneous masses were diagnosed as congenital cutaneous fibropapillomatosis. Those lesions involved focal proliferation of sebaceous gland in the dermis. There were no histological findings to suggest bovine papillomavirus infection, such as the presence of intranuclear inclusion bodies, large keratohyalin granules, and koilocytosis. Furthermore, papillomaviral antigens and DNA were not detected by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. These results suggested that there was no association between these cutaneous lesions and bovine papillomavirus infection, and the lesions were considered as harmartomatous changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) of sea turtles is characterised by cutaneous tumours and is associated with Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), an alphaherpesvirus from the family Herpesviridae. Here, we provide the first evidence of ChHV5-associated FP in endangered Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Sabah, which is located at the northern region of Malaysian Borneo. The aims of our study were firstly, to determine the presence of ChHV5 in both tumour exhibiting and tumour-free turtles using molecular techniques and secondly, to determine the phylogeography of ChHV5 in Sabah. We also aim to provide evidence of ChHV5 infection through histopathological examinations. A total of 115 Green turtles were sampled from Mabul Island, Sabah. We observed three Green turtles that exhibited FP tumours and were positive for ChHV5. In addition, six clinically healthy turtles (with no presence of tumours) were also positive for the virus based on Polymerase Chain Reaction of three viral genes (Capsid protein gene UL18, Glycoprotein H gene UL22, and Glycoprotein B gene UL27). The prevalence of the ChHV5 was 5.22% in asymptomatic Green turtles. Epidermal intranuclear inclusions were identified in tumour lesions upon histopathological examination. In addition, phylogenetic analyses of the UL18, UL22, UL27, and UL30 gene sequences showed a worldwide distribution of the ChHV5 strain with no clear distinction based on geographical location suggesting an interoceanic connection and movement of the sea turtles. Thus, the emergence of ChHV5 in Green turtles in the waters of Sabah could indicate a possible threat to sea turtle populations in the future and requires further monitoring of the populations along the Bornean coast.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor disease associated with a herpesvirus (chelonid herpesvirus 5 [ChHV5]) that affects mainly green turtles globally. Understanding the epidemiology of FP has been hampered by a lack of robust serological assays to monitor exposure to ChHV5. This is due in part to an inability to efficiently culture the virus in vitro for neutralization assays. Here, we expressed two glycoproteins (FUS4 and FUS8) from ChHV5 using baculovirus. These proteins were immobilized on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plates in their native form and assayed for reactivity to two types of antibodies, full-length 7S IgY and 5.7S IgY, which has a truncated Fc region. Turtles from Florida were uniformly seropositive to ChHV5 regardless of tumor status. In contrast, in turtles from Hawaii, we detected strong antibody reactivity mainly in tumored animals, with a lower antibody response being seen in nontumored animals, including those from areas where FP is enzootic. Turtles from Hawaii actively shedding ChHV5 were more seropositive than nonshedders. In trying to account for differences in the serological responses to ChHV5 between green turtles from Hawaii and green turtles from Florida, we rejected the cross-reactivity of antibodies to other herpesviruses, differences in viral epitopes, or differences in procedure as likely explanations. Rather, behavioral or other differences between green turtles from Hawaii and green turtles from Florida might have led to the emergence of biologically different viral strains. While the strains from turtles in Florida apparently spread independently of tumors, the transmission of the Hawaiian subtype relies heavily on tumor formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

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.

During routine monitoring in Ojo de Liebre Lagoon, Mexico, a juvenile black turtle (Chelonia mydas) was captured, physically examined, measured, weighed, sampled, and tagged. The turtle showed no clinical signs suggestive of disease. Eleven months later, this turtle was recaptured in the same area, during which one lesion suggestive of fibropapilloma on the neck was identified and sampled for histopathology and molecular analysis. Histopathology revealed hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia, acanthosis, papillary differentiation and ballooning degeneration of epidermal cells, increased fibroblasts in the dermis, and angiogenesis, among other things. Hematological values were similar to those reported for clinically healthy black turtles and did not show notable changes between the first capture and the recapture; likewise, clinicopathological evaluation did not show structural or functional damage in the turtle’s systems. The chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) UL30 gene was amplified and sequenced for phylogeny; Bayesian reconstruction showed a high alignment with the genus Scutavirus of the Eastern Pacific group. This is one of the first reports of ChHV5 in a cutaneous fibropapilloma of a black turtle in the Baja California peninsula.

Papillomaviruses (PVs) are an extremely large group of viruses that cause skin and mucosa infections in humans and various animals. In roe deer and red deer, most PVs belong to the Deltapapillomavirus genus and cause neoplastic changes that are generally described as fibropapillomas. Despite the wide distribution of roe and red deer throughout Europe and beyond, the data in the scientific literature regarding the widespread distribution of PVs and the genetic variability of PV genomes in these species are rather scarce. This study describes cutaneous fibropapillomatosis cases in roe and red deer with clinical manifestations that are typical of infections with PVs. In all cases, the presence of PV DNA was confirmed using PCR, followed by Sanger sequencing of the partial L1 gene. The complete PV genomes were determined in all the investigated samples using next-generation sequencing technology, revealing infections of roe deer with the CcaPV1-type and red deer with the CePV1v-type variant. A comparison of the complete CcaPV1-type and CePV1v-type variant genome sequences reported here with already available complete genome sequences in GenBank revealed their great genetic stability across time and space.

Fibropapillomatosis is a neoplastic disease that afflicts sea turtles. Although it is disseminated worldwide, cases of the disease have not been reported in the southeastern Pacific region. We describe a case of fibropapillomatosis in a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) during its rehabilitation at the Machalilla National Park Rehabilitation Center, Ecuador. Viral presence was confirmed by PCR, targeting fragments of the chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) unique long (UL) genes, UL27, UL28, and UL30. The amplicons were sequenced and included in a global phylogenetic analysis of the virus with other reported sequences from GenBank. Results showed that the available viral sequences segregated into five phylogeographic groups: western Atlantic and eastern Caribbean, central Pacific, western Pacific, Atlantic, and eastern Pacific groups. The concatenated ChHV5 sequences from Ecuador clustered with the eastern Pacific sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is a herpesvirus associated with fibropapillomatosis (FP) in sea turtles worldwide. Single-locus typing has previously shown differentiation between Atlantic and Pacific strains of this virus, with low variation within each geographic clade. However, a lack of multi-locus genomic sequence data hinders understanding of the rate and mechanisms of ChHV5 evolutionary divergence, as well as how these genomic changes may contribute to differences in disease manifestation. To assess genomic variation in ChHV5 among five Hawaii and three Florida green sea turtles, we used high-throughput short-read sequencing of long-range PCR products amplified from tumor tissue using primers designed from the single available ChHV5 reference genome from a Hawaii green sea turtle. This strategy recovered sequence data from both geographic regions for approximately 75% of the predicted ChHV5 coding sequences. The average nucleotide divergence between geographic populations was 1.5%; most of the substitutions were fixed differences between regions. Protein divergence was generally low (average 0.08%), and ranged between 0 and 5.3%. Several atypical genes originally identified and annotated in the reference genome were confirmed in ChHV5 genomes from both geographic locations. Unambiguous recombination events between geographic regions were identified, and clustering of private alleles suggests the prevalence of recombination in the evolutionary history of ChHV5. This study significantly increased the amount of sequence data available from ChHV5 strains, enabling informed selection of loci for future population genetic and natural history studies, and suggesting the (possibly latent) co-infection of individuals by well-differentiated geographic variants.

Natural biotoxins and anthropogenic toxicants pose a significant risk to sea turtle health. Documented effects of contaminants include potential disease progression and adverse impacts on development, immune function, and survival in these imperiled species. The shallow seagrass habitats of Florida's northwest coast (Big Bend) serve as an important developmental habitat for Kemp's ridley ( Lepidochelys kempii ) and green ( Chelonia mydas ) sea turtles; however, few studies have been conducted in this area. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate plasma analytes (mass, minimum straight carapace length, body condition index [BCI], fibropapilloma tumor score, lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, plasma protein electrophoresis, cholesterol, and total solids) in Kemp's ridleys and green turtles and their correlation to brevetoxins that were released from a red tide bloom event from July–October 2014 in the Gulf of Mexico near Florida's Big Bend, and (2) to analyze red blood cells in Kemp's ridleys and green turtles for toxic elements (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, thallium) with correlation to the measured plasma analytes. Positive correlations were observed between brevetoxins and α 2 -globulins in Kemp's ridleys and α 2 - and γ-globulins in green turtles, indicating potential immunostimulation. Arsenic, cadmium, and lead positively correlated with superoxide dismutase in Kemp's ridleys, suggesting oxidative stress. Lead and mercury in green turtles negatively correlated with BCI, while mercury positively correlated with total tumor score of green turtles afflicted with fibropapillomatosis, suggesting a possible association with mercury and increased tumor growth. The total tumor score of green turtles positively correlated with total protein, total globulins, α 2 -globulins, and γ-globulins, further suggesting inflammation and immunomodulation as a result of fibropapillomatosis. Lastly, brevetoxin concentrations were positively related to tumor score, indicating potential tumor promotion by brevetoxin. These results signify that brevetoxins and toxic elements elicit various negative effects on sea turtle health, including immune function, oxidative stress, and possibly disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a devastating neoplastic disease characterized by single or multiple cutaneous and visceral fibrovascular tumors. Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) has been identified as the most likely etiologic agent. From 2010 to 2013, the presence of ChHV5 DNA was determined in apparently normal skin, tumors and swab samples (ocular, nasal and cloacal) collected from 114 olive ridley ( Lepidochelys olivacea) and 101 green ( Chelonia mydas) turtles, with and without FP tumors, on the Pacific coasts of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. For nesting olive ridley turtles from Costa Rica without FP, 13.5% were found to be positive for ChHV5 DNA in at least one sample, while in Nicaragua, all olive ridley turtles had FP tumors, and 77.5% tested positive for ChHV5 DNA. For green turtles without FP, 19.8% were found to be positive for ChHV5 DNA in at least one of the samples. In turtles without FP tumors, ChHV5 DNA was detected more readily in skin biopsies than swabs. Juvenile green turtles caught at the foraging site had a higher prevalence of ChHV5 DNA than adults. The presence of ChHV5 DNA in swabs suggests a possible route of viral transmission through viral secretion and excretion via corporal fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current species extinction crisis is being exacerbated by an increased rate of emergence of epizootic disease. Human-induced factors including habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity and wildlife population reductions resulting in reduced genetic variation are accelerating disease emergence. Novel, efficient and effective approaches are required to combat these epizootic events. Here, we present the case for the application of human precision medicine approaches to wildlife medicine in order to enhance species conservation efforts. We consider how the precision medicine revolution, coupled with the advances made in genomics, may provide a powerful and feasible approach to identifying and treating wildlife diseases in a targeted, effective and streamlined manner. A number of case studies of threatened species are presented which demonstrate the applicability of precision medicine to wildlife conservation, including sea turtles, amphibians and Tasmanian devils. These examples show how species conservation could be improved by using precision medicine techniques to determine novel treatments and management strategies for the specific medical conditions hampering efforts to restore population levels. Additionally, a precision medicine approach to wildlife health has in turn the potential to provide deeper insights into human health and the possibility of stemming and alleviating the impacts of zoonotic diseases. The integration of the currently emerging Precision Medicine Initiative with the concepts of EcoHealth (aiming for sustainable health of people, animals and ecosystems through transdisciplinary action research) and One Health (recognizing the intimate connection of humans, animal and ecosystem health and addressing a wide range of risks at the animal-human-ecosystem interface through a coordinated, collaborative, interdisciplinary approach) has great potential to deliver a deeper and broader interdisciplinary-based understanding of both wildlife and human diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]