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Wirth W, Schwarzkopf L, Schaffer J, Ariel E. No Ranaviral DNA Found in Australian Freshwater Turtles, 2014-19, Despite Previous Serologic Evidence. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:683-690. [PMID: 38741369 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Ranaviruses are pathogens of ectothermic vertebrates (fish, amphibians, and reptiles). Turtles are the most common group of reptiles reported with ranaviral infections. However, there have been no surveys for wild ranaviral infection in any turtles from the suborder Pleurodira, despite ranaviral distributions and experimentally susceptible pleurodiran turtle populations overlapping in several areas, including Australia. We assayed 397 pooled blood samples from six Australian freshwater turtle species collected from five different sites in northern Australia between 2014 and 2019. Historical serologic surveys in the area had found antiranaviral antibodies; however, we did not detect any ranaviral DNA in our samples. Discrepancies between historical serologic and our molecular results may be explained by low viral prevalence during the years that these samples were collected, survivorship bias, or possibly an age class bias in sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wytamma Wirth
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, 1 James Cook Drive, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
| | - Lin Schwarzkopf
- College of Science and Engineering, 1 James Cook Drive, James Cook University, The Science Place, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
| | - Jason Schaffer
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, 1 James Cook Drive, Building 145, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
| | - Ellen Ariel
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, 1 James Cook Drive, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4814, Australia
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Parrish K, Kirkland P, Horwood P, Chessman B, Ruming S, McGilvray G, Rose K, Hall J, Skerratt L. Delving into the Aftermath of a Disease-Associated Near-Extinction Event: A Five-Year Study of a Serpentovirus (Nidovirus) in a Critically Endangered Turtle Population. Viruses 2024; 16:653. [PMID: 38675993 PMCID: PMC11055124 DOI: 10.3390/v16040653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bellinger River virus (BRV) is a serpentovirus (nidovirus) that was likely responsible for the catastrophic mortality of the Australian freshwater turtle Myuchelys georgesi in February 2015. From November 2015 to November 2020, swabs were collected from turtles during repeated river surveys to estimate the prevalence of BRV RNA, identify risk factors associated with BRV infection, and refine sample collection. BRV RNA prevalence at first capture was significantly higher in M. georgesi (10.8%) than in a coexisting turtle, Emydura macquarii (1.0%). For M. georgesi, various risk factors were identified depending on the analysis method, but a positive BRV result was consistently associated with a larger body size. All turtles were asymptomatic when sampled and conjunctival swabs were inferred to be optimal for ongoing monitoring. Although the absence of disease and recent BRV detections suggests a reduced ongoing threat, the potential for the virus to persist in an endemic focus or resurge in cyclical epidemics cannot be excluded. Therefore, BRV is an ongoing potential threat to the conservation of M. georgesi, and strict adherence to biosecurity principles is essential to minimise the risk of reintroduction or spread of BRV or other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Parrish
- Virology Laboratory, Elizabeth Macarthur Agriculture Institute, Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Peter Kirkland
- Virology Laboratory, Elizabeth Macarthur Agriculture Institute, Department of Primary Industries, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Paul Horwood
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | | | - Shane Ruming
- Biodiversity Conservation and Science, New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia
| | - Gerry McGilvray
- Biodiversity Conservation and Science, New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia
| | - Karrie Rose
- Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
| | - Jane Hall
- Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia
| | - Lee Skerratt
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
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Wirth W, Elliott E, Rudd D, Hayes L, Maclaine A, Mashkour N, Ahasan S, Gorm Dahl J, Drane K, Ariel E. Cutaneous Lesions in Freshwater Turtles ( Emydura macquarii krefftii and Myuchelys latisternum) in a Rainforest Creek in North Queensland, Australia. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:33. [PMID: 32083109 PMCID: PMC7006032 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Freshwater turtles inhabit most rivers and creeks on the east coast of Australia, but some species are only found in specific catchments, which makes them vulnerable to extinction. During annual fieldtrips to Alligator Creek, North Queensland, the resident population of Myuchelys latisternum and Emydura macquarii krefftii in a natural pond, just outside Bowling Green National Park, have been surveyed for a number of years and demographic data recorded against tagged turtles. Rounded, cutaneous lesions on individual animals were first noted in August 2016, three years after the first survey of the population. Turtles living in the upstream sections of the creek were not affected. An initial investigation into the cause of the lesions ruled out pollutants and although the bacterial communities appeared to be different on turtles with lesions, a causative agent was not identified. Attempts to isolate virus in culture was not successful and specific PCRs for ranavirus, papillomavirus, adenovirus and herpesvirus did not identify their presence. Blood biochemical parameters, body condition and activity levels were not significantly different between affected turtles and those without lesions. The turtles in this pond were monitored regularly over the following three years with 249 M. latisternum and 192 E. m. krefftii captured, tagged and released. The prevalence of the lesions fluctuated with season from 0 to 77 and 68% respectively, but did not vary significantly between species or sex in adults. There was a tendency for larger animals to be more likely to have lesions. The position of the lesions on the turtles was mostly on dorsal surfaces, distally on the legs and proximal on the tales of males, indicating that the initial lesion may have been associated with a behaviourally induced trauma. Recaptured animals (n = 43) during this period, provided records of lesion progression over time and while some healed up between capture events, others persisted for up to 24 months. Some turtles were repeatedly captured without lesions. Intra-species aggression associated with seasonal behaviours could potentially be the primary cause of skin trauma, followed by a secondary invasion of an unusual pathogen present in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wytamma Wirth
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Donna Rudd
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
| | - Linda Hayes
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
| | - Alicia Maclaine
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
| | - Narges Mashkour
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
| | - Shamim Ahasan
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Rangpur, Bangladesh
| | - Jakob Gorm Dahl
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
| | - Kezia Drane
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
| | - Ellen Ariel
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
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