Evidence of Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) in Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Sabah, Borneo

ABSTRACTFibropapillomatosis (FP) is characterized 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 this 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 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. Thus, the emergence of ChHV5 in Green turtle 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.

Download Full-text

First Evidence of Chelonid Herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) Infection in Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Sabah, Borneo

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10111404 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1404

Author(s):

Aswini Leela Loganathan ◽

Pushpa Palaniappan ◽

Vijay Kumar Subbiah

Keyword(s):

Histopathological Examination ◽

Sea Turtles ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Northern Region ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Capsid Protein Gene ◽

Green Turtles

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.

Download Full-text

Use of Baculovirus-Expressed Glycoprotein H in an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Developed To Assess Exposure to Chelonid Fibropapillomatosis-Associated Herpesvirus and Its Relationship to the Prevalence of Fibropapillomatosis in Sea Turtles

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology ◽

10.1128/cvi.00438-07 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 15 (5) ◽

pp. 843-851 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Lawrence H. Herbst ◽

Shefali Lemaire ◽

Ada R. Ene ◽

David J. Heslin ◽

Llewellyn M. Ehrhart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Recombinant Baculovirus ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Marine Turtle ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Glycoprotein H ◽

History Of ◽

Experimentally Induced

ABSTRACT Chelonid fibropapillomatosis-associated herpesvirus (CFPHV) is an alphaherpesvirus believed to cause marine turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP). A serodiagnostic assay was developed for monitoring sea turtle populations for CFPHV exposure. CFPHV glycoprotein H (gH) expressed in recombinant baculovirus was used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect virus-specific 7S turtle antibodies. Using captive-reared green turtles (Chelonia mydas) with no history of virus exposure as “known negatives” and others with experimentally induced FP as “known positives,” the assay had 100% specificity but low sensitivity, as seroconversion was detected in only half of the turtles bearing experimentally induced tumors. Antibodies were detected only in samples collected after cutaneous fibropapillomas appeared, consistent with observations that tumors are significant sites of virion production and antigen expression and the possibility that prolonged/repeated virus shedding may be required for adequate stimulation of 7S antibody responses to gH. Natural routes of infection, however, may produce higher seroconversion rates. High gH antibody seroprevalences (∼80%) were found among wild green turtles in three Florida localities with different FP prevalences, including one site with no history of FP. In addition, all eight loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) tested were seropositive despite FP being uncommon in this species. The possibility that CFPHV infection may be common relative to disease suggests roles for environmental and host factors as modulators of disease expression. Alternatively, the possibility of other antigenically similar herpesviruses present in wild populations cannot be excluded, although antibody cross-reactivity with the lung/eye/trachea disease-associated herpesvirus was ruled out in this study.

Download Full-text

Plasma proteomics of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) reveals pathway shifts and potential biomarker candidates associated with health and disease

Conservation Physiology ◽

10.1093/conphys/coab018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

David P Marancik ◽

Justin R Perrault ◽

Lisa M Komoroske ◽

Jamie A Stoll ◽

Kristina N Kelley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Protein Abundance ◽

Plasma Samples ◽

Important Species ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Rehabilitation Programs ◽

Potential Biomarker ◽

Health And Disease

Abstract Evaluating sea turtle health can be challenging due to an incomplete understanding of pathophysiologic responses in these species. Proteome characterization of clinical plasma samples can provide insights into disease progression and prospective biomarker targets. A TMT-10-plex-LC–MS/MS platform was used to characterize the plasma proteome of five, juvenile, green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and compare qualitative and quantitative protein changes during moribund and recovered states. The 10 plasma samples yielded a total of 670 unique proteins. Using ≥1.2-fold change in protein abundance as a benchmark for physiologic upregulation or downregulation, 233 (34.8%) were differentially regulated in at least one turtle between moribund and recovered states. Forty-six proteins (6.9%) were differentially regulated in all five turtles with two proteins (0.3%) demonstrating a statistically significant change. A principle component analysis showed protein abundance loosely clustered between moribund samples or recovered samples and for turtles that presented with trauma (n = 3) or as intestinal floaters (n = 2). Gene Ontology terms demonstrated that moribund samples were represented by a higher number of proteins associated with blood coagulation, adaptive immune responses and acute phase response, while recovered turtle samples included a relatively higher number of proteins associated with metabolic processes and response to nutrients. Abundance levels of 48 proteins (7.2%) in moribund samples significantly correlated with total protein, albumin and/or globulin levels quantified by biochemical analysis. Differentially regulated proteins identified with immunologic and physiologic functions are discussed for their possible role in the green turtle pathophysiologic response and for their potential use as diagnostic biomarkers. These findings enhance our ability to interpret sea turtle health and further progress conservation, research and rehabilitation programs for these ecologically important species.

Download Full-text

The impact of fibropapillomatosis on clinical characteristics, blood gas, plasma biochemistry, and hematological profiles in juvenile green turtles ( Chelonia mydas)

Bulletin of Marine Science ◽

10.5343/bms.2019.0120 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 96 (4) ◽

pp. 723-734

Author(s):

Tsung-Hsien Li ◽

Chao-Chin Chang

Keyword(s):

White Blood Cells ◽

Extracellular Fluid ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Blood Gas ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a tumor- forming disease that afflicts all marine turtles and is the most common in green turtles (Chelonia mydas). In this study, the morphometric characteristics, blood gas, biochemistry, and hematological profiles of 28 (6 FP-positive and 22 FP-negative) green turtles from the coast of Taiwan were investigated. The results indicated that body weight ( P < 0.001) and curved carapace length (CCL; P < 0.001) in green turtles with FP were significantly higher than in turtles without FP. Furthermore, green turtles with FP had a significantly lower value of hemoglobin (HB; P = 0.010) and packed cell volume (PCV; P = 0.005) than turtles without FP. Blood cell counts of white blood cells (WBC; P = 0.008) and lymphocytes ( P = 0.022) were observed with significant difference; green turtles with FP had lower counts than turtles without FP. In addition, turtles with FP had significantly higher pH ( P = 0.036), base excess in extracellular fluid (BEecf; P = 0.012), bicarbonate (HCO3– ; P = 0.008), and total carbon dioxide (TCO2 ; P = 0.025) values than turtles without FP. The findings of this study provide valuable clinical parameters for the medical care of the species in sea turtle rehabilitation centers and help us to understand the physiological response of green turtles to different tumor-forming conditions.

Download Full-text

ASPEK MORFOLOGI, REPRODUKSI, DAN PERILAKU PENYU HIJAU (Chelonia mydas) Di PANTAI PANGUMBAHAN, KABUPATEN SUKABUMI, JAWA BARAT

BAWAL Widya Riset Perikanan Tangkap ◽

10.15578/bawal.3.2.2010.93-101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 93

Author(s):

Adriani Sri Nastiti Krismono ◽

Achmad Fitriyanto ◽

Ngurah Nyoman Wiadnyana

Keyword(s):

Green Turtle ◽

Carapace Width ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Stratified Sampling ◽

Hatching Rate ◽

Brood Stock ◽

Green Turtles ◽

And Behavior ◽

Nesting Season

Penyu hijau (Chelonia mydas) termasuk dalam phylum Chordata dan famili Cheloniideae. Jumlah penyu hijau yang singgah ke Pantai Pangumbahan untuk bertelur semakin menurun karena tidak terkendalinya masyarakat melakukan penangkapan induk penyu dan pengambilan telurnya. Penelitian tentang morfologi, reproduksi, dan perilaku penyu hijau sebagai salah satu dasar pengelolaan telah dilakukan di Pantai Pangumbahan pada bulan Agustus 2008. Metode penelitian yang digunakan pengambilan contoh berstrata. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan Agustus 2008 (pada saat puncak peneluran). Parameter yang diamati antara lain ukuran penyu dari 89 ekor jumlah penyu bersarang, jumlah telur dan tingkat penetasan, serta perilaku pada saat penyu bertelur. Hasil penelitian menunjukan yang diamati diperoleh panjang karapas berkisar antara 97-15 cm dan lebar karapas 83,5-108 cm, jumlah penyu naik ke pantai 89 ekor dan penyu yang bertelur 39 ekor. Jumlah telur penyu hijau berhasil dihitung 80-105 butir per induk penyu. Bulan Agustus 2008 merupakan puncak musim peneluran. Kegiatan peneluran penyu hijau dibagi menjadi enam tahap. Upaya konservasi yang sudah dilakukan adalah penetasan telur penyu semi alami, restocking tukik, dan menjaga keamanan sarang telur penyu. Green turtles (Chelonia mydas), including the phylum Chordata and families Cheloniideae. The number of green turtles come to lay eggs Pangumbahan beach to decline because of increasingly unmanageable public do making arrests turtles brood stock and their eggs. Research on the morphology, reproduction, and behavior of green turtles as one of the basic management has been conducted on the Pangumbahan Beach in August 2008. The method used stratified sampling. The experiment was conducted in August 2008 (at the peak of nesting). Other parameters were observed between the size of the 89 tail number of turtles nesting turtles, the number of eggs and hatching rate and behavior during turtle nesting. Results obtained showed that the observed length ranges from 97- 15 cm carapace and carapace width from 83.5-108 cm, the number went up to the beach 89 sea turtle and sea turtle nesting tail as much as 39 tails. The number of green turtle eggs had counted as many as 80-105 eggs per turtles brood stock. Month August 2008 is the peak nesting season of green turtle nesting activities are divided into six stages. Conservation efforts that have been done is semi natural turtle hatchery, restocking hatchlings, and nest of turtle eggs to maintain security.

Download Full-text

Estimating past and present sex ratios of sea turtles in Suriname

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z96-033 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 74 (2) ◽

pp. 267-277 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Matthew H. Godfrey ◽

N. Mrosovsky ◽

R. Barreto

Keyword(s):

Sea Turtles ◽

Sex Ratios ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Dermochelys Coriacea ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Sand Temperature ◽

Turtle Conservation ◽

Sea Turtle Conservation

Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles in Suriname lay eggs over several months of the year. During this nesting season, changes in rainfall produce changes in sand temperature, which in turn influence the sexual differentiation of incubating sea turtle embryos. The overall sex ratio of leatherback and green sea turtle hatchlings produced at Matapica beach in Suriname was investigated. Estimates of the sex ratios of these turtles in 1993 (green turtles 63.8% female, leatherbacks 69.4% female) were roughly 10% more female-biased than those from an earlier study in 1982. For both species, a significant negative relationship was found between monthly rainfall and monthly sex ratios. Using this relationship and data on rainfall in the past, it was possible to estimate overall sex ratios for an additional 12 years. These estimates varied considerably among different years, ranging from 20 to 90% female in the case of green turtles. Nevertheless, males tended to be produced primarily in April and May, while some females were produced in all months. Such seasonal patterns of production of turtles of different sexes have implications for sea turtle conservation programs that involve manipulating or harvesting eggs.

Download Full-text

The value of long-term, community-based monitoring of marine turtle nesting: a study in the Lamu archipelago, Kenya

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605317000771 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

pp. 71-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mike I. Olendo ◽

Gladys M. Okemwa ◽

Cosmas N. Munga ◽

Lilian K. Mulupi ◽

Lily D. Mwasi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Green Turtle ◽

Low Cost ◽

Western Indian Ocean ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Marine Turtle ◽

Olive Ridley ◽

Community Based ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Incubation Duration

AbstractMonitoring of nesting beaches is often the only feasible and low-cost approach for assessing sea turtle populations. We investigated spatio-temporal patterns of sea turtle nesting activity monitored over 17 successive years in the Lamu archipelago, Kenya. Community-based patrols were conducted on 26 stretches of beach clustered in five major locations. A total of 2,021 nests were recorded: 1,971 (97.5%) green turtleChelonia mydasnests, 31 (1.5%) hawksbillEretmochelys imbricatanests, 8 (0.4%) olive ridleyLepidochelys olivaceanests and 11 (0.5%) unidentified nests. Nesting occurred year-round, increasing during March–July, when 74% of nests were recorded. A stable trend in mean annual nesting densities was observed in all locations. Mean clutch sizes were 117.7 ± SE 1 eggs (range 20–189) for green turtles, 103±SE 6 eggs (range 37–150) for hawksbill turtles, and 103±SE 6 eggs (range 80–133) for olive ridley turtles. Curved carapace length for green turtles was 65–125 cm, and mean annual incubation duration was 55.5±SE 0.05 days. The mean incubation duration for green turtle nests differed significantly between months and seasons but not locations. The hatching success (pooled data) was 81.3% (n = 1,841) and was higher for in situ nests (81.0±SE 1.5%) compared to relocated nests (77.8±SE 1.4%). The results highlight the important contribution of community-based monitoring in Kenya to sustaining the sea turtle populations of the Western Indian Ocean region.

Download Full-text

Diet selection by immature green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Bahía Magdalena foraging ground in the Pacific Coast of the Baja California Peninsula, México

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315408001057 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 88 (3) ◽

pp. 641-647 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Milagros López-Mendilaharsu ◽

Susan C. Gardner ◽

Rafael Riosmena-Rodriguez ◽

Jeffrey A. Seminoff

Keyword(s):

Baja California ◽

Gastric Lavage ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Baja California Peninsula ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Turtle Conservation ◽

The Pacific ◽

Preferred Species ◽

Conservation Plans

In order to determine if eastern Pacific green turtles (Chelonia mydas) exhibit feeding preferences samples of recently ingested food items were compared to the food resources available in the marine environment where C. mydas congregates. Stomach samples were collected by conducting gastric lavage and, at the same time, vegetation transects were conducted during spring and winter. Green turtles in our study selectively consumed seaweeds, with Codium amplivesiculatum and Gracialaria textorii as preferred species. Differences in the consumption of species were found across the two mentioned seasons and were consistent with changes in the availability of different algae species in the environment. Based on these results, it is recommended that sea turtle conservation plans along the Baja California Peninsula include Pacific coastal mangrove channels with a high diversity of algae species as priority areas for protection.

Download Full-text

Sea Turtle Navigation and the Detection of Geomagnetic Field Features

Journal of Navigation ◽

10.1017/s0373463397007649 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 10-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kenneth J. Lohmann ◽

Catherine M. F. Lohmann

Keyword(s):

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Ocean Basin ◽

Open Ocean ◽

Continuous Series ◽

Turtle Species ◽

Green Turtles ◽

Open Sea ◽

Circular Current ◽

Distant Target

The lives of sea turtles consist of a continuous series of migrations. As hatchlings, the turtles swim from their natal beaches into the open sea, often taking refuge in circular current systems (gyres) that serve as moving, open-ocean nursery grounds. The juveniles of many populations subsequently take up residence in coastal feeding areas that are located hundreds or thousands of kilometres from the beaches on which the turtles hatched; some juveniles also migrate between summer and winter habitats. As adults, turtles periodically leave their feeding grounds and migrate to breeding and nesting regions, after which many return to their own specific feeding sites. The itinerant lifestyle characteristic of most sea turtle species is thus inextricably linked to an ability to orient and navigate accurately across large expanses of seemingly featureless ocean.In some sea turtle populations, migratory performance reaches extremes. The total distances certain green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and loggerheads (Caretta caretta) traverse over the span of their lifetimes exceed tens of thousands of kilometres, several times the diameter of the turtle's home ocean basin. Adult migrations between feeding and nesting habitats can require continuous swimming for periods of several weeks. In addition, the paths of migrating turtles often lead almost straight across the open ocean and directly to the destination, leaving little doubt that turtles can navigate to distant target sites with remarkable efficiency.

Download Full-text

Exertional Myopathy in a Juvenile Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Entangled in a Large Mesh Gillnet

Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/604320 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Brianne E. Phillips ◽

Sarah A. Cannizzo ◽

Matthew H. Godfrey ◽

Brian A. Stacy ◽

Craig A. Harms

Keyword(s):

Histopathological Examination ◽

Blood Gas Analysis ◽

Chelonia Mydas ◽

Sea Turtle ◽

Gas Analysis ◽

Blood Gas ◽

Histological Changes ◽

Green Sea Turtle ◽

Incidental Capture ◽

Pamlico Sound

A juvenile female green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) was found entangled in a large mesh gillnet in Pamlico Sound, NC, and was weak upon presentation for treatment. Blood gas analysis revealed severe metabolic acidosis and hyperlactatemia. Plasma biochemistry analysis showed elevated aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase, marked hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hyperkalemia. Death occurred within 24 hours of presentation despite treatment with intravenous and subcutaneous fluids and sodium bicarbonate. Necropsy revealed multifocal to diffuse pallor of the superficial and deep pectoral muscles. Mild, multifocal, and acute myofiber necrosis was identified by histopathological examination. While histological changes in the examined muscle were modest, the acid-base, mineral, and electrolyte abnormalities were sufficiently severe to contribute to this animal’s mortality. Exertional myopathy in reptiles has not been well characterized. Sea turtle mortality resulting from forced submergence has been attributed to blood gas derangements and seawater aspiration; however, exertional myopathy may also be an important contributing factor. If possible, sea turtles subjected to incidental capture and entanglement that exhibit weakness or dull mentation should be clinically evaluated prior to release to minimize the risk of delayed mortality. Treatment with appropriate fluid therapy and supportive care may mitigate the effects of exertional myopathy in some cases.

Download Full-text