Following field observations of wild Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) with oral lesions similar to those seen in captive tortoises with herpesvirus infection, we measured the prevalence of antibodies to Testudinid herpesvirus (TeHV) 3 in wild populations of desert tortoises in California. The survey revealed 30.9% antibody prevalence. In 2009 and 2010, two wild adult male desert tortoises, with gross lesions consistent with trauma and puncture wounds, respectively, were necropsied. Tortoise 1 was from the central Mojave Desert and tortoise 2 was from the northeastern Mojave Desert. We extracted DNA from the tongue of tortoise 1 and from the tongue and nasal mucosa of tortoise 2. Sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products of the herpesviral DNA-dependent DNA polymerase gene and the UL39 gene respectively showed 100% nucleotide identity with TeHV2, which was previously detected in an ill captive desert tortoise in California. Although several cases of herpesvirus infection have been described in captive desert tortoises, our findings represent the first conclusive molecular evidence of TeHV2 infection in wild desert tortoises. The serologic findings support cross-reactivity between TeHV2 and TeHV3. Further studies to determine the ecology, prevalence, and clinical significance of this virus in tortoise populations are needed.
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VIROLOGY|
July 01 2012
SEROLOGIC AND MOLECULAR EVIDENCE FOR TESTUDINID HERPESVIRUS 2 INFECTION IN WILD AGASSIZ'S DESERT TORTOISES, GOPHERUS AGASSIZII
Elliott R. Jacobson;
Elliott R. Jacobson
6
1 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100126, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
6 Corresponding author (email: [email protected])
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Kristin H. Berry;
Kristin H. Berry
2 US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, 21803 Cactus Ave., Suite F, Riverside, California 92518, USA
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James F. X. Wellehan, Jr.;
James F. X. Wellehan, Jr.
1 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100126, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
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Francesco Origgi;
Francesco Origgi
3 Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI) at ITPA, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
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April L. Childress;
April L. Childress
1 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100126, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
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Josephine Braun;
Josephine Braun
4 Wildlife Disease Laboratories, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California 92027, USA
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Mark Schrenzel;
Mark Schrenzel
4 Wildlife Disease Laboratories, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California 92027, USA
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Julie Yee;
Julie Yee
5 US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, 3020 State University Dr. East, Modoc Hall, Suite 3006, Sacramento, California 95819, USA
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Bruce Rideout
Bruce Rideout
4 Wildlife Disease Laboratories, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, California 92027, USA
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J Wildl Dis (2012) 48 (3): 747–757.
Article history
Received:
August 22 2011
Accepted:
January 08 2012
Citation
Elliott R. Jacobson, Kristin H. Berry, James F. X. Wellehan, Francesco Origgi, April L. Childress, Josephine Braun, Mark Schrenzel, Julie Yee, Bruce Rideout; SEROLOGIC AND MOLECULAR EVIDENCE FOR TESTUDINID HERPESVIRUS 2 INFECTION IN WILD AGASSIZ'S DESERT TORTOISES, GOPHERUS AGASSIZII. J Wildl Dis 1 July 2012; 48 (3): 747–757. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-48.3.747
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