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Introduction: In the United States there is a mass mortality in wild chelonian (turtles and tortoises) populations which remains to be undetermined. Ranavirus is an emerging disease that is well known for causing mass mortality events in fish and amphibians. There is another disease that is not only found in snakes but also chelonian, it is called Iridovirus. Iridovirus have mostly been reported only in captive Hermans tortoises These two viruses have been tested to be very close to other virus called frog virus 3 (FV3). This report describes five instances of Ranavirus infection in chelonians between 2003 and 2005 in Georgia, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania. The species is includes in the article are Burmese star tortoises, free-ranging gopher tortoises, free-ranging eastern box turtle, and Florida box turtle.
Reason for Research: This research was done to find out with Ranavirus infections can cause such mortality events in these different types of turtles. It suggests that this virus is a much more important pathogen in free-ranging chelonians than anticipated from previous reports. It also shows and has research done that this virus is similar to another virus commonly found in frogs. This suggests that amphibians could serve as reservoir hosts for chelonians.
Methods and Materials: The types of tortoises and turtles were observed and when they showed clinical signs were then treated. Most turtles died within days after showing the signs. At necropsy, tissues were taken from all major organ system from the five types of turtles and
amphibians (Burmese star tortoise, gopher tortoise, eastern box turtles, and green frog tadpoles.) Each tissue was fixed up in a solution of neutral buffered 10% formalin, dehydrated in graded alcohols, and the stained. The tongue, liver, and spleen were taken from the chelonian to be frozen. DNA was then extracted from the tissues and cells were cultured for virus isolation. Frog virus 3 was taken from the DNA and served as a positive control to compare the isolated viruses.
Results: The findings were very similar between the Burmese star tortoise, gopher tortoise, and box turtles. The most common lesions were necrotizing and ulcerative stomatitis. Lesions were found in the oral captivity, esophagus and the spleen. There was also frequently found red pulp congestion and hemorrhage. All of the turtles that were tested for the virus tested positive. Most had inclusions on the body and all that were tested for major capsid proteins tested positive. The cell cultures infected with tissue homeogenates from the Burmese star and gopher tortoises showed large viral particles that were consistent in size and shape with iridovirus.
Discussion: The findings in this report suggest that iridovirus infections in chelonians are an emerging disease and are rapidly increasing. They are emerging pathogens in chelonians. In these mortality events some of the turtles have been infected with a virus similar with irirdovirus. But it has been proven wrong that it is not a chain reaction causing the mortality events. Iridovirus are quite resistant and thought to be capable of persisting in water sources
for and extended time, so through vector-borne route of transmission is another way that both amphibians and chelonians could become infected from this virus.
Conclusion: Ranavirus is a significant pathogen of chelonians and suggests that amphibians might serve as a source of infection for chelonians. Or that the virus exists at a low level of infection. Ranaviral infections are a global threat to amphibian population and maybe should also be considered a global threat to chelonians as well.
http://www.jwildlifedis.org/content/44/4/851.full.pdf+html?sid=dcc855b3-b915-455e-b432e69ee0214234