Green turtle--Diseases

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are an endangered species prone to a debilitating disease called fibropapillomatosis (FP). The aim of this study was to determine the influence of UV light on vitamin D levels and immune function in juvenile green sea turtles with FP. Phagocytosis, plasma vitamin D levels and viral load of ChHV5 were measured for FP- and FP+ turtles kept at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center (GLNC) and for turtles caught at the St. Lucie power plant. Turtles kept at GLNC were housed in tanks exposed to varying amounts of UV light. Turtles brought into GLNC had lower phagocytosis compared to turtles at the St. Lucie power plant. Individuals exposed to greater UV light had higher plasma vitamin D levels and a more successful recovery. The results of this project will provide rehabilitation facilities with a mechanism to improve the recovery of animals with this disease.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a devastating pandemic characterized by benign
cutaneous neoplasias that is afflicting marine turtles worldwide. This study evaluated the
expression of HSP72, GRP96, and Bcl-2 in tumor and healthy biopsies. These proteins
are found in high levels in some tumors and prevent apoptosis, allowing tumor cells to
survive. HSP72 and GRP96 are also known to initiate an immune response and may
contribute to the regression often observed in FP tumors. Results were found that
showed all three protective proteins had significantly higher levels in actively growing
tumor tissue compared to healthy tissue. Specifically, cauliflower-like tumors, thought to
be actively growing, were found to have higher levels of HSP72 and GRP96 compared to
healthy skin, whereas smooth tumors, thought to be regressing, did not. These results
offer insight into the molecular mechanisms behind the development of FP tumors and
open a number of avenues for future research.

Green Turtle Fibropapillomatosis has been a disease of intense investigation, with little ascertained as to its cause. This investigation thus delved into the possible link between this disease and immune compromise. This was achieved by creating three groups of animals, one characterized as healthy another as diseased, and a third as recovered. Blood taken from each animal was then applied to the four aspects of our investigation: general chemistry, hematology, specialized chemistry, and in vitro cell proliferation to establish the best diagnostic cues. General chemistry, hematology, and specialized chemistry proved to be inconsequential in elucidating the effects of possible immune compromise. In vitro cell proliferation, though, proved conclusively that t and b like cells were severely depressed in diseased and "recovered" animals, giving conclusive evidence of immune dysfunction in association with fibropapillomatosis.

Green turtle fibropapillomatosis (GTFP) is a highly debilitating disease that affects several species of marine turtles worldwide. This study evaluated stress protein expression in red blood cells (RBCs), skin and tumors of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from a GTFP-prevalent site and a more pristine, GTFP-free site. Levels of expression of HSP72 were significantly higher in healthy turtles from the GTFP-prevalent site compared to healthy turtles from the GTFP-free site, suggesting that these turtles are, indeed stressed. Levels of HSP72 expression were also significantly higher in the nucleated RBCs than in skin tissues of turtles from both sites. These results demonstrate the utility of RBC stress protein evaluation as a new, minimally invasive method of evaluating stress loads in marine turtles as a factor in the potentially multifactorial etiology of GTFP. In addition, HSP72 and GP96 were present and detectable in tumors of diseased turtles, and thus show potential for use in treatment of GTFP.