RESUMEN

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) - tumour-associated chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5; Scutavirus chelonidalpha5) - is a disease that affect marine turtles around the world, and characterized by the formation of cutaneous tumours that can appear anywhere on the body. We carried out a thorough literature search (from 1990 to 2024) in the feeding sites of North-western Mexico, a region that hosts important habitats for feeding, development, and reproduction for five of the seven existing sea turtle species. We found 18 reports recording a total of 32 cases of FP and/or ChHV5/Scutavirus chelonidalpha5 in coastal and insular areas of North-western Mexico. Baja California Sur resulted with the highest number of cases (75%). While the first case of ChHV5/Scutavirus chelonidalpha5 infection was reported in 2004, the presence of FP tumours was reported in 2014 and became more frequent between 2019 and 2024. The affected species were black, Chelonia mydas (50%), olive ridley, Lepidochelys olivacea (46.8%) and loggerhead turtles, Caretta caretta (3.2%). Tumours occurred mainly in anterior flippers (46.1%) and neck (22.5%), and most had a nodular and verrucous appearance with a rough surface. In the study region, there is a potential sign of the emergence of the ChHV5/Scutavirus chelonidalpha5 infections and FP disease during the last 20 years, with a rapid increase during the last 10 years. As long as infections by ChHV5/Scutavirus chelonidalpha5 and the prevalence of the FP disease may be potentially influenced by anthropogenic activities, a One Health approach is needed to understand and improve sea turtles' health.

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Using a broad-range nested PCR assay targeting the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase (pol) gene, we detected adenoviruses in 17 (20.48%) out of 83 fecal samples from small Indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. All 17 PCR amplicons were sequenced for the partial pol gene (~300 bp, hereafter referred to as Mon sequences). Fourteen of the 17 Mon sequences shared maximum homology (98.3-99.6% and 97-98.9% nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) sequence identities, respectively) with that of bovine adenovirus-6 (species Bovine atadenovirus E). Mongoose-associated adenovirus Mon-39 was most closely related (absolute nt and deduced aa identities) to an atadenovirus from a tropical screech owl. Mon-66 shared maximum nt and deduced aa identities of 69% and 71.4% with those of atadenoviruses from a spur-thighed tortoise and a brown anole lizard, respectively. Phylogenetically, Mon-39 and Mon-66 clustered within clades that were predominated by atadenoviruses from reptiles, indicating a reptilian origin of these viruses. Only a single mongoose-associated adenovirus, Mon-34, was related to the genus Mastadenovirus. However, phylogenetically, Mon-34 formed an isolated branch, distinct from other mastadenoviruses. Since the fecal samples were collected from apparently healthy mongooses, we could not determine whether the mongoose-associated adenoviruses infected the host. On the other hand, the phylogenetic clustering patterns of the mongoose-associated atadenoviruses pointed more towards a dietary origin of these viruses. Although the present study was based on partial pol sequences (~90 aa), sequence identities and phylogenetic analysis suggested that Mon-34, Mon-39, and Mon-66 might represent novel adenoviruses. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the detection and molecular characterization of adenoviruses from the mongoose.

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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.

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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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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.

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A fibropapilomatose é uma doença caracterizada pela presença de fibropapilomascutâneos, que podem se distribuir por todo o corpo do animal. Estudos apontam que o herpesvírus associado a fibropapilomatose (ChHV-5) é o causador desta doença, que tem como uma de suas principais características a latência. Os testes sorológicos são uma ferramenta de grande valia para verificar a exposição das tartarugas marinhas ao vírus e, desta forma, trazer dados sobre como o vírus afeta às populações de tartarugas em vida livre. Sendo assim, a padronização do teste para o Herpesvirus tipo 5 (ChHV-5) permitirá a identificação e titulação dos anticorpos mesmo em animais sem sinais clínicos.

Fibropapillomatosis is a disease characterized by the presence of cutaneous fibropapillomas, which can spread throughout the body of the animal. Studies indicate that the herpesvirus associated with fibropapillomatosis (ChHV-5) is the cause of this disease, which has as one of its main characteristics the latency. Serological tests are a valuable tool for verifying the exposure of sea turtles to the virus and thus provide data on how the virus affects turtle populations in free living. Therefore, the standardization of the test for Herpesvirus type 5 (ChHV-5) will allow the identification and titration of the antibodies even in animals without clinical signs.

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RESUMEN

A fibropapilomatose é uma doença caracterizada pela presença de fibropapilomascutâneos, que podem se distribuir por todo o corpo do animal. Estudos apontam que o herpesvírus associado a fibropapilomatose (ChHV-5) é o causador desta doença, que tem como uma de suas principais características a latência. Os testes sorológicos são uma ferramenta de grande valia para verificar a exposição das tartarugas marinhas ao vírus e, desta forma, trazer dados sobre como o vírus afeta às populações de tartarugas em vida livre. Sendo assim, a padronização do teste para o Herpesvirus tipo 5 (ChHV-5) permitirá a identificação e titulação dos anticorpos mesmo em animais sem sinais clínicos.(AU)

Fibropapillomatosis is a disease characterized by the presence of cutaneous fibropapillomas, which can spread throughout the body of the animal. Studies indicate that the herpesvirus associated with fibropapillomatosis (ChHV-5) is the cause of this disease, which has as one of its main characteristics the latency. Serological tests are a valuable tool for verifying the exposure of sea turtles to the virus and thus provide data on how the virus affects turtle populations in free living. Therefore, the standardization of the test for Herpesvirus type 5 (ChHV-5) will allow the identification and titration of the antibodies even in animals without clinical signs.(AU)

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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.

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Fibropapillomatosis (FP), a neoplastic disease characterized by the formation of multiple tumors affecting different species of sea turtles and, most often, the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), is considered one of the major threats to the survival of this species. Recent studies indicate that Chelonid herpesvirus (ChHV5) is the etiological agent of this disease, though its association with anthropogenically altered environments and the immune status of these animals also appears to contribute to disease expression and tumor formation. In this study, tumor biopsy and secretions from green turtles captured off the coast of São Paulo State, Brazil, were used in histological and molecular analyses to detect and characterize circulating ChHV5. In 40.9% of cases, the tumor histopathological findings revealed focal ballooning degeneration with intranuclear inclusion bodies, results which are suggestive of viral infection. ChHV5 was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the animals' skin, ocular tumor biopsies, and ocular and oral secretions. The analysis of the detected ChHV5 sequences revealed two distinct genetic sequences together. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Brazilian samples were similar to ChHV5 samples described for the Atlantic phylogeographic group and are therefore part of the same clade as the Gulf of Guinea and Puerto Rico samples. This similarity suggests a possible flow of the virus between these three regions.

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Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a benign tumoral disease that affects sea turtles, hampering movement, sight and feeding, ultimately leading to death. In Brazil, the disease was described for the first time in 1986. Research suggests the involvement of a herpesvirus in association with environmental and genetic factors as causal agents of FP. The objective of the present study was to detect and characterize this herpesvirus in sea turtles living in the coast of state Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. From October 2008 to July 2010, 14 turtles were observed between the beaches of Torres and Tavares, of which 11 were green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 3 were loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). All turtles were young and mean curved carapace length was 37.71±7.82cm, and varied from 31 to 55cm. Only one green turtle presented a 1cm, papillary, pigmented fibropapilloma. Skin and fibropapilloma samples were analyzed by conventional and real time PCR assays to detect and quantify herpesvirus. All skin samples were negative, though the fibropapilloma specimen was positive in both tests. Viral load was 9,917.04 copies of viral genome per milligram of tissue. The DNA fragment amplified from the fibropapilloma sample was sequenced and allocated in the Atlantic phylogeographic group. This study reports the first molecular characterization of herpesvirus associated with fibropapilloma in turtles from the coast of RS.

A fibropapilomatose (FP) é uma doença tumoral benigna que pode causar a morte das tartarugas marinhas por dificultar a sua locomoção, visão e alimentação. Pesquisas sugerem o envolvimento de um herpesvirus em associação com fatores ambientais e genéticos como agentes causais da FP. No Brasil, foi descrita pela primeira vez em 1986. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi detectar e caracterizar esse herpesvírus em tartarugas marinhas do litoral do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). De outubro de 2008 a julho de 2010, foram encontradas 14 tartarugas marinhas entre as praias de Torres e Tavares, das quais 11 eram tartarugas verdes (Chelonia mydas) e 3 eram tartarugas cabeçudas (Caretta caretta). Todas as tartarugas eram jovens e o comprimento curvilíneo de carapaça médio foi de 37,71±7,82cm, variando de 31 a 55cm. Apenas uma tartaruga verde apresentou um fibropapiloma de 1cm, pigmentado e de superfície papilar. Amostras de pele e do fibropapiloma foram submetidas a PCR convencional e PCR em tempo real para detecção e quantificação do herpesvírus. Todas as amostras de pele foram negativas e o fibropapiloma foi positivo em ambas as técnicas, apresentando uma carga viral de 9.917,04 cópias de genoma viral/mg de tecido. O fragmento de DNA amplificado na amostra de fibropapiloma foi sequenciado e revelou pertencer ao grupo filogeográfico do Atlântico. Essa é a primeira caracterização molecular do herpesvirus associado ao fibropapiloma em tartarugas do litoral do RS.

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RESUMEN

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a benign tumoral disease that affects sea turtles, hampering movement, sight and feeding, ultimately leading to death. In Brazil, the disease was described for the first time in 1986. Research suggests the involvement of a herpesvirus in association with environmental and genetic factors as causal agents of FP. The objective of the present study was to detect and characterize this herpesvirus in sea turtles living in the coast of state Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. From October 2008 to July 2010, 14 turtles were observed between the beaches of Torres and Tavares, of which 11 were green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 3 were loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). All turtles were young and mean curved carapace length was 37.71±7.82cm, and varied from 31 to 55cm. Only one green turtle presented a 1cm, papillary, pigmented fibropapilloma. Skin and fibropapilloma samples were analyzed by conventional and real time PCR assays to detect and quantify herpesvirus. All skin samples were negative, though the fibropapilloma specimen was positive in both tests. Viral load was 9,917.04 copies of viral genome per milligram of tissue. The DNA fragment amplified from the fibropapilloma sample was sequenced and allocated in the Atlantic phylogeographic group. This study reports the first molecular characterization of herpesvirus associated with fibropapilloma in turtles from the coast of RS.(AU)

A fibropapilomatose (FP) é uma doença tumoral benigna que pode causar a morte das tartarugas marinhas por dificultar a sua locomoção, visão e alimentação. Pesquisas sugerem o envolvimento de um herpesvirus em associação com fatores ambientais e genéticos como agentes causais da FP. No Brasil, foi descrita pela primeira vez em 1986. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi detectar e caracterizar esse herpesvírus em tartarugas marinhas do litoral do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). De outubro de 2008 a julho de 2010, foram encontradas 14 tartarugas marinhas entre as praias de Torres e Tavares, das quais 11 eram tartarugas verdes (Chelonia mydas) e 3 eram tartarugas cabeçudas (Caretta caretta). Todas as tartarugas eram jovens e o comprimento curvilíneo de carapaça médio foi de 37,71±7,82cm, variando de 31 a 55cm. Apenas uma tartaruga verde apresentou um fibropapiloma de 1cm, pigmentado e de superfície papilar. Amostras de pele e do fibropapiloma foram submetidas a PCR convencional e PCR em tempo real para detecção e quantificação do herpesvírus. Todas as amostras de pele foram negativas e o fibropapiloma foi positivo em ambas as técnicas, apresentando uma carga viral de 9.917,04 cópias de genoma viral/mg de tecido. O fragmento de DNA amplificado na amostra de fibropapiloma foi sequenciado e revelou pertencer ao grupo filogeográfico do Atlântico. Essa é a primeira caracterização molecular do herpesvirus associado ao fibropapiloma em tartarugas do litoral do RS.(AU)

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A global phylogeny for chelonid fibropapilloma-associated herpesvirus (CFPHV), the most likely aetiological agent of fibropapillomatosis (FP) in sea turtles, was inferred, using dated sequences, through Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis and used to estimate the virus evolutionary rate independent of the evolution of the host, and to resolve the phylogenetic positions of new haplotypes from Puerto Rico and the Gulf of Guinea. Four phylogeographical groups were identified: eastern Pacific, western Atlantic/eastern Caribbean, mid-west Pacific and Atlantic. The latter comprises the Gulf of Guinea and Puerto Rico, suggesting recent virus gene flow between these two regions. One virus haplotype from Florida remained elusive, representing either an independent lineage sharing a common ancestor with all other identified virus variants or an Atlantic representative of the lineage giving rise to the eastern Pacific group. The virus evolutionary rate ranged from 1.62×10(-4) to 2.22×10(-4) substitutions per site per year, which is much faster than what is expected for a herpesvirus. The mean time for the most recent common ancestor of the modern virus variants was estimated at 192.90-429.71 years ago, which, although more recent than previous estimates, still supports an interpretation that the global FP pandemic is not the result of a recent acquisition of a virulence mutation(s). The phylogeographical pattern obtained seems partially to reflect sea turtle movements, whereas altered environments appear to be implicated in current FP outbreaks and in the modern evolutionary history of CFPHV.

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