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Leineweber C, Marschang RE. Antibodies against Two Testudinid Herpesviruses in Pet Tortoises in Europe. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12172298. [PMID: 36078018 PMCID: PMC9454543 DOI: 10.3390/ani12172298] [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: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Herpesviruses are important pathogens of tortoises, and several serologically and genetically distinct virus types have been described in these animals. Virus neutralization testing is commonly used in Europe to determine previous infection with the two types most often found in pet European tortoises, testudinid herpesvirus (TeHV) 1 and 3. In this retrospective study, the results of serological testing for antibodies against each of these viruses in serum or plasma samples from 1728 tortoises were evaluated, and antibody detection rates were compared based on virus type, host species, year, season, and country of origin. Antibodies (titer 2 or higher) against at least one of the two viruses used were detected in a total of 122 (7.06%; 95% CI 5.95−8.37%) of the animals tested. The antibody detection rates differed significantly depending on the tortoise species (p < 0.0001) and the year of sampling (TeHV1 p = 0.0402; TeHV3 p = 0.0482) for both virus types. For TeHV1, antibody detection rates differed significantly (p = 0.0384) by season. The highest detection rate was in summer (5.59%; 95% CI 4.10−7.58%), and the lowest was in fall (1.25%; CI 0.53−2.87%). TeHV1 antibody detection rates did not differ significantly (p = 0.7805) by country, whereas TeHV3 antibody detection rates did (p = 0.0090). The highest detection rate, 12.94% (95% CI 7.38−21.70%), was found in samples from Italy. These results support previous hypotheses on the species’ susceptibility to TeHV1 and 3 and the use of serology as a diagnostic test for the detection of herpesvirus-infected tortoises.
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Schüler L, Picquet P, Leineweber C, Dietz J, Müller E, Marschang RE. A testudinid herpesvirus 1 (TeHV1)-associated disease outbreak in a group of Horsfield's tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii). TIERARZTLICHE PRAXIS. AUSGABE K, KLEINTIERE/HEIMTIERE 2021; 49:462-467. [PMID: 34861723 DOI: 10.1055/a-1666-8378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In spring 2020, a severe disease outbreak with high morbidity and mortality was observed in a collection of 15 Horsfield's tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii). Affected tortoises showed upper respiratory- and gastrointestinal tract signs, including rhinitis and stomatitis. Testudinid herpesvirus 1 (TeHV1) and Mycoplasma spp. were detected by PCR in oral swabs of affected animals. Histological examination of one deceased animal showed intranuclear inclusion bodies typical for herpesvirus infections in liver, spleen and oesophagus. The virus was likely introduced into the collection 2 years earlier by a clinically healthy Horsfield's tortoise that was tested positive for TeHV1 by PCR.
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Okoh GR, Horwood PF, Whitmore D, Ariel E. Herpesviruses in Reptiles. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:642894. [PMID: 34026888 PMCID: PMC8131531 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.642894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the 1970s, several species of herpesviruses have been identified and associated with significant diseases in reptiles. Earlier discoveries placed these viruses into different taxonomic groups on the basis of morphological and biological characteristics, while advancements in molecular methods have led to more recent descriptions of novel reptilian herpesviruses, as well as providing insight into the phylogenetic relationship of these viruses. Herpesvirus infections in reptiles are often characterised by non-pathognomonic signs including stomatitis, encephalitis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis and proliferative lesions. With the exception of fibropapillomatosis in marine turtles, the absence of specific clinical signs has fostered misdiagnosis and underreporting of the actual disease burden in reptilian populations and hampered potential investigations that could lead to the effective control of these diseases. In addition, complex life histories, sampling bias and poor monitoring systems have limited the assessment of the impact of herpesvirus infections in wild populations and captive collections. Here we review the current published knowledge of the taxonomy, pathogenesis, pathology and epidemiology of reptilian herpesviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- God'spower Richard Okoh
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Paul F Horwood
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - David Whitmore
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Ellen Ariel
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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Lindemann DM, Allender MC, Thompson D, Adamovicz L, Dzhaman E. Development and validation of a quantitative PCR assay for detection of Emydoidea herpesvirus 1 in free-ranging Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii). J Virol Methods 2018; 254:40-45. [PMID: 29360549 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), an endangered species in Illinois, have experienced range-wide declines because of habitat degradation and fragmentation, predation, and road mortality. While ongoing studies are crucial to a thorough understanding of the natural history and demographics in these disjointed Illinois populations, infectious disease threats have been largely unevaluated. Herpesvirus outbreaks have been associated with high morbidity and mortality in populations of captive tortoises and turtles worldwide, including the family Emydidae (pond and box turtles). However, novel herpesviruses including Terrapene herpesvirus 1, Emydid herpesvirus 1 and 2, and Glyptemys herpesvirus 1 and 2, have recently been identified in apparently healthy free-ranging freshwater turtles. In 2015, 20 free-ranging Blanding's turtles in DuPage County, Illinois were screened for a herpesvirus using consensus PCR. A novel herpesvirus species (Emydoidea herpesvirus 1; EBHV1) was identified in two animals and shared a high degree of sequence homology to other freshwater turtle herpesviruses. Two quantitative real-time PCR assays, using EBHV1 primer-1 and primer-2, were developed to target an EBHV1-specific segment of the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase gene and validated. Both assays performed with high efficiency (slope = -3.2; R2 = 1), low intra-assay variability, and low inter-assay variability (coefficient of variation <2% at all dilutions). However, EBHV1 primer-2 displayed less variation and was selected to test clinical samples and five closely related herpesvirus control samples. Results indicate that this assay is specific for EBHV1, has a linear range of detection from 108 to 101 viral copies per reaction, and can categorically detect as few as 1 viral copy per reaction. This qPCR assay provides a valuable diagnostic tool for future characterization of EBHV1 epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana M Lindemann
- Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
| | - Matthew C Allender
- Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Dan Thompson
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Wheaton, IL 60189, USA
| | - Laura Adamovicz
- Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Elena Dzhaman
- Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
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Kolesnik E, Obiegala A, Marschang RE. Detection of Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses, topiviruses, and ferlaviruses in samples from chelonians in Europe. J Vet Diagn Invest 2017; 29:820-832. [DOI: 10.1177/1040638717722387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
We tested samples from 1,015 chelonians in Europe for Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses, ranaviruses, picornaviruses, and ferlaviruses by PCR. Mycoplasma spp. were detected in 42.1% and herpesviruses were detected in 8.0% of tested chelonians. Differentiation of the herpesviruses revealed that 46.9% of the detected chelonian viruses were testudinid herpesvirus 1 (TeHV-1) and 54.3% were TeHV-3, including co-detections of TeHV-1 and -3 in 3 tortoises. TeHV-4 was detected in a leopard tortoise ( Stigmochelys pardalis), and a herpesvirus that could not be further characterized was found in a pond slider ( Trachemys scripta). Picornaviruses (topiviruses) were detected in 2.2% of the tested animals; ferlaviruses were found in 0.6%; no ranaviruses were detected in any of the animals tested. Mycoplasma spp. were detected significantly more often in Horsfield’s tortoises ( Testudo horsfieldii), leopard tortoises, and Indian star tortoises ( Geochelone elegans) than in other species. Horsfield’s tortoises were also significantly more often positive for TeHV-1. Mycoplasma and TeHV-1 were co-detected in 3.0%, and mycoplasma and TeHV-3 in 2.3%. The TeHV-4–positive tortoise was also positive for mycoplasma. Mycoplasma and picornaviruses were co-detected in 1.2% of the tortoises. A spur-thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca) was positive for mycoplasma and a ferlavirus. In some cases, >2 pathogens were detected. A significant correlation between mycoplasma and herpesvirus detection was found. Of all tested animals, 47.6% were positive for at least one pathogen, demonstrating the importance of pathogen detection in captive chelonians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Kolesnik
- Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany (Kolesnik, Marschang)
- Institut of Animal Hygiene, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany (Obiegala)
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany (Kolesnik, Marschang)
- Institut of Animal Hygiene, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany (Obiegala)
| | - Rachel E. Marschang
- Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG, Bad Kissingen, Germany (Kolesnik, Marschang)
- Institut of Animal Hygiene, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany (Obiegala)
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Kolesnik E, Mittenzwei F, Marschang RE. Detection of testudinid herpesvirus type 4 in a leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis). TIERAERZTLICHE PRAXIS AUSGABE KLEINTIERE HEIMTIERE 2016; 44:283-6. [PMID: 27301060 DOI: 10.15654/tpk-150843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Several animals from a mixed species collection of tortoises in Germany died unexpectedly. Some of the affected leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) from this group showed respiratory signs. Samples were collected from one of the ill tortoises, and a Mycoplasma spp. and a herpesvirus were detected by PCR. Sequencing of a portion of the DNA polymerase gene of the herpesvirus showed 99% identity with testudinid herpesvirus 4, previously described only once in a bowsprit tortoise (Chersina angulata) in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rachel E Marschang
- Rachel E. Marschang, Laboklin GmbH+Co KG, Steubenstraße 4, 97688 Bad Kissingen, E-Mail:
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Alfaro-Núñez A, Frost Bertelsen M, Bojesen AM, Rasmussen I, Zepeda-Mendoza L, Tange Olsen M, Gilbert MTP. Global distribution of Chelonid fibropapilloma-associated herpesvirus among clinically healthy sea turtles. BMC Evol Biol 2014; 14:206. [PMID: 25342462 PMCID: PMC4219010 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-014-0206-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease characterized by cutaneous tumours that has been documented to infect all sea turtle species. Chelonid fibropapilloma-associated herpesvirus (CFPHV) is believed to be the aetiological agent of FP, based principally on consistent PCR-based detection of herpesvirus DNA sequences from FP tumours. We used a recently described PCR-based assay that targets 3 conserved CFPHV genes, to survey 208 green turtles (Chelonia mydas). This included both FP tumour exhibiting and clinically healthy individuals. An additional 129 globally distributed clinically healthy individual sea turtles; representing four other species were also screened. Results CFPHV DNA sequences were obtained from 37/37 (100%) FP exhibiting green turtles, and 45/300 (15%) clinically healthy animals spanning all five species. Although the frequency of infected individuals per turtle population varied considerably, most global populations contained at least one CFPHV positive individual, with the exception of various turtle species from the Arabian Gulf, Northern Indian Ocean and Puerto Rico. Haplotype analysis of the different gene markers clustered the CFPHV DNA sequences for two of the markers (UL18 and UL22) in turtles from Turks and Caicos separate to all others, regardless of host species or geographic origin. Conclusion Presence of CFPHV DNA within globally distributed samples for all five species of sea turtle was confirmed. While 100% of the FP exhibiting green turtles yielded CFPHV sequences, surprisingly, so did 15% of the clinically healthy turtles. We hypothesize that turtle populations with zero (0%) CFPHV frequency may be attributed to possible environmental differences, diet and/or genetic resistance in these individuals. Our results provide first data on the prevalence of CFPHV among seemingly healthy turtles; a factor that may not be directly correlated to the disease incidence, but may suggest of a long-term co-evolutionary latent infection interaction between CFPHV and its turtle-host across species. Finally, computational analysis of amino acid variants within the Turks and Caicos samples suggest potential functional importance in a substitution for marker UL18 that encodes the major capsid protein gene, which potentially could explain differences in pathogenicity. Nevertheless, such a theory remains to be validated by further research. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-014-0206-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alonzo Alfaro-Núñez
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | | | - Anders Miki Bojesen
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Veterinary Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Isabel Rasmussen
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Lisandra Zepeda-Mendoza
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Morten Tange Olsen
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Marcus Thomas Pius Gilbert
- Centre for GeoGenetics, Section for Evolutionary Genomics, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350, Copenhagen K, Denmark. .,Trace and Environmental DNA Laboratory, School of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, Australia.
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