Identification of a novel herpesvirus in captive Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) |
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Affiliation: | 1. Immunology-Vaccinology, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.;2. Clinic for Birds, Rabbits and Rodents, Department of Clinical Sciences, FARAH, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium.;1. School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;2. Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Partner State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China;3. Science Unit, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong, China |
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Abstract: | Herpesviruses are significant pathogens of chelonians which most commonly cause upper respiratory tract disease and necrotizing stomatitis. Herpesvirus infection was identified in two populations of captive Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) using histopathology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with DNA sequencing. Necrotizing lesions with eosinophilic to amphophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were identified in the tissues of one hatch-year individual in January 2013, which was herpesvirus positive by PCR. A separate captive group of adults had an observed herpesvirus prevalence of 58% using PCR in July 2011. In these cases, a novel herpesvirus, Terrapene herpesvirus 1 (TerHV1), was identified and serves as the first herpesvirus sequenced in the genus Terrapene. Similar to the other herpesviruses of the Order Testudines, TerHV1 clusters with the genus Scutavirus of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae. |
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Keywords: | Eastern box turtle Emydidae Herpesvirus TerHV1 |
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