Preliminary immunologic data correlated with daily clinical observations suggested that the manatees were immunologically suppressed and that the papillomas were caused by activation of latent PV infections and reinoculation from active infections. The emergence of PV-induced papillomas in captive manatees, the possibility of activation of latent infection or transmission of active infection to free-ranging manatees, and the underlying cause ofimmune suppression predisposing manatees to develop viral papillomatosis are serious concerns for the future management of this highly endangered species.
This is the author’s version of a work accepted for publication by Elsevier. Changes resulting from the publishing process, including peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting and other quality control mechanisms, may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. The definitive version has been published at http://www.elsevier.com/ and may be cited as Bossart, Gregory D., Ruth Y. Ewing, Mark Lowe, Mark Sweat, Susan J. Decker, Catherine J. Walsh, Shin-je Ghim, A. Bennett Jenson (2002) Viral Papillomatosis in Florida Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris), Experimental and Molecular Pathology 72(1):37–48 doi:10.1006/exmp.2001.2407
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #1450.