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Fibropapillomatosis and the chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 in green turtles from West Africa
Publication . Monteiro, Jessica; Duarte, Margarida; Amadou, Kidé; Barbosa, Castro; El Bar, Nahi; Madeira, Fernando M.; Regalla, Aissa; Duarte, Ana; Tavares, Luís; Patrício, Ana Rita
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.
Fibropapillomatosis and the chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 in green turtles from West Africa
Publication . Monteiro, Jessica; Duarte, Margarida; Amadou, Kidé; Barbosa, Castro; El Bar, Nahi; Madeira, Fernando M.; Regalla, Aissa; Duarte, Ana; Tavares, Luís; Patrício, Ana Rita
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.
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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6817 - DCRRNI ID
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157846