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Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is strongly associated with fibropapillomatosis, a
neoplastic disease of sea turtles that can result in debilitation and mortality. The objectives of this
study were to examine green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and leatherback
(Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles in Grenada, West Indies, for fibropapillomatosis and to utilize
ChHV5-specific PCR, degenerate herpesvirus PCR, and serology to non-invasively evaluate the
prevalence of ChHV5 infection and exposure. One-hundred and sixty-seven turtles examined from
2017 to 2019 demonstrated no external fibropapilloma-like lesions and no amplification of ChHV5
DNA from whole blood or skin biopsies. An ELISA performed on serum detected ChHV5-specific IgY
in 18/52 (34.6%) of green turtles tested. In 2020, an adult, female green turtle presented for necropsy
from the inshore waters of Grenada with severe emaciation and cutaneous fibropapillomas. Multiple
tumors tested positive for ChHV5 by qPCR, providing the first confirmed case of ChHV5-associated
fibropapillomatosis in Grenada. These results indicate that active ChHV5 infection is rare, although
viral exposure in green sea turtles is relatively high. The impact of fibropapillomatosis in Grenada is
suggested to be low at the present time and further studies comparing host genetics and immunologic
factors, as well as examination into extrinsic factors that may influence disease, are warranted.
neoplastic disease of sea turtles that can result in debilitation and mortality. The objectives of this
study were to examine green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and leatherback
(Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtles in Grenada, West Indies, for fibropapillomatosis and to utilize
ChHV5-specific PCR, degenerate herpesvirus PCR, and serology to non-invasively evaluate the
prevalence of ChHV5 infection and exposure. One-hundred and sixty-seven turtles examined from
2017 to 2019 demonstrated no external fibropapilloma-like lesions and no amplification of ChHV5
DNA from whole blood or skin biopsies. An ELISA performed on serum detected ChHV5-specific IgY
in 18/52 (34.6%) of green turtles tested. In 2020, an adult, female green turtle presented for necropsy
from the inshore waters of Grenada with severe emaciation and cutaneous fibropapillomas. Multiple
tumors tested positive for ChHV5 by qPCR, providing the first confirmed case of ChHV5-associated
fibropapillomatosis in Grenada. These results indicate that active ChHV5 infection is rare, although
viral exposure in green sea turtles is relatively high. The impact of fibropapillomatosis in Grenada is
suggested to be low at the present time and further studies comparing host genetics and immunologic
factors, as well as examination into extrinsic factors that may influence disease, are warranted.
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