Seroepidemiological studies of herpesvirus-associated diseases of marine turtles: Fibropapillomatosis and lung-eye-trachea disease

Abstract

We have developed immunological tests that can identify marine turtles in Florida (green and loggerhead) that have been exposed to the LETV herpesvirus. The seroepidemiological data collected provides critical evidence about the relationship between infection with the FP-associated herpesvirus and the LETV herpesvirus. The data supports the hypothesis that LETV and FPHV infections are independent infections of marine turtles. The data shows that wild green turtles in Florida are exposed to the LETD-associated herpesvirus, which is the first description ofLETV infection in free-ranging marine turtles. To our knowledge, the antigenic proteins identified in this study are not only the first proteins from a reptilian herpesvirus to be cloned and expressed, but they represent the first reptilian herpesvirus proteins to be identified as immunogenic in their host species. (16 page document)