In the last few decades, a
crippling infection has been appearing in increasing amounts on sea turtles
around the world called Fibropapillomatosis (FP). This disease causes external
and sometimes internal tumor growth on the face, flippers, and skin of sea
turtles (see photo) and is afflicting the endangered Green Sea Turtle in much higher
numbers than any other species of marine turtle. Although these tumors are
usually not cancerous, they can be large in size and in number and can
greatly impact a turtle’s movements, eyesight, and physical ability, which is
alarming since all species of Marine Turtles are considered threatened or endangered
according to the Endangered Species List. The cause of this disease has yet to
be determined, but research has shown that it is most likely a result of a turtle
herpes virus, although the data is not yet clear how the disease is spread or
why it is expressed. However, studies have suggested that a contributing factor
to the rising rates of FP could likely be environmental pollution and climate
change.
According to research by the
Florida Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network, “22.2 percent of dead or
debilitated (i.e. stranded) green turtles (sample size=6027) found in Florida
between 1980-2005 had FP tumors. FP prevalence is low among strandings of
Kemp's ridleys (Lepidochelys kempii), and loggerheads (Caretta
caretta) in comparison to the rate of FP in green turtles” (Florida Fishand Wildlife Conservation Commission). The
reasons for this disproportionate species occurrence is unknown, but the
implications are significant as the Green Sea Turtle is listed as endangered by
the Endangered Species Act and research has shown a 48-50% decline in the
amount of mature nesting females in the past 150 years (NOAA Fisheries). One
difficulty in studying Green Sea Turtles and Fibropapillomatosis is the fact
that as juveniles, turtles travel and live in the open ocean for many years and
current tracking technology is unable to monitor their activity for this
portion of their lives. One study suggested that these juvenile turtles only
express FP after returning from offshore into coastal areas, which supports the
idea that the disease may be passed through skin lesions (Patricio et al). Research
has also suggested that the disease may be waterborne or from a marine leech
that carries the DNA associated with the herpes virus. (Greenblatt et al).
Many studies have proposed that the
increase in FP prevalence may be due to climate change and environmental changes
in the turtles’ habitats. One study that researched the turtle associated
herpes virus thought to cause FP found that the virus has been present for 3 million
years, and since the disease was shown to be more common in polluted habitats,
the environment could be a major factor in the infection (Greenblatt et al). Another
study in in the Hawaiian Islands showed that there are more diseased turtles in
areas with a high amount of nitrogen runoff from urbanization and agriculture.
The researchers suggested that the arginine produced from nitrogen rich seaweed
triggers the growth of tumors from the dormant herpes virus in turtles
(National Geographic). More research
found that the virus is present in a large percent of non-diseased turtles, and
that both infected and healthy turtles may release this virus into the
environment. They also discovered that the virus was present not only in
epidermis (outer skin) cells, but in dermis (inner skin) cells as well,
implying that this disease is more than just a skin infection (Page-Karijian et
al). However, it is still not certain that the virus is the cause of
Fibropapillomavirus, so more research should be conducted to determine the true
origin of this debilitating infection.
Since the cause of this disease is
currently unknown, so are the treatment and prevention methods. According to
The Turtle Hospital in Marathon Florida, a charitable corporation that treats
injured and diseased turtles and returns them to the wild, almost all of the
marine hospitals in Florida cannot accept turtles with FP because of its
infectious nature. The protocol for treating the infected turtles involves first
checking for internal tumors -which if present call for euthanasia of the
turtle- but when absent, the external tumors are removed with a CO2 laser. The
turtle is kept for one year and if no tumors grow back, they are released into
the wild. However, many times the tumors regrow and this process is repeated
until they do not, which could take many years. (The Turtle Hospital).
http://www.turtlehospital.org/images/surgery.jpg
So why should we care? The disease
is not spreading to humans or affecting us directly. However, it could very
well affect us indirectly in the future if it goes unchecked. Fibropapillomavirus
is an incapacitating and mysterious infection that is contributing to the
already steep decline of marine turtles around the world. Along with certain
countries harvesting Green Turtle eggs and adults, and accidental capture in
fishing nets, this disease is a significant threat to these endangered species
and more efforts in research and conservation should be pursued to protect
them. Sea Turtles have been on Earth for over a hundred million years and they
are one of the only species that eats sea grass, so their presence is important
in maintaining sea grass beds and the biodiversity the beds provide. The eggs
they lay also contribute to the nutrients of the beach sands, which are then
able to grow vegetation and provide a more stable and biologically diverse ecosystem
on the shore as well (Sea Turtle Conservancy). Sea turtles play a vital role in
maintaining marine and shore ecosystems, and if their declining numbers and
this disease is not addressed, it would mean a loss of biodiversity and a
possible imbalance in marine ecosystems, which would affect all species on
Earth, including us.
Although the research is not
entirely conclusive on the cause of FP, there is evidence that a contributor is
marine pollution and other environmental changes caused by humans. Along with
further research on the disease, other efforts are being implemented to protect
sea turtles from negative human activity. One way to reduce the amount of
turtles killed in fishing nets is the use of safe netting gear called a TED or
Turtle Excluder Device, which allows turtles and other large creatures to
escape through the bottom while smaller fish and shrimp are caught (NOAAFisheries). Since FP can debilitate a turtle’s movement and ability to escape
fishing nets, this device is important in conserving the endangered species. Other
legislative efforts like boat speed limits in turtle rich areas and government
funded conservation programs are also helpful and should be encouraged and
enforced if we want to protect these ancient reptiles that contribute so much
to the biodiversity of our oceans and world. There is obvious evidence that
humans are largely responsible for marine turtles’ shrinking numbers and
possibly this crippling disease, so it is our responsibility to do our best to
educate others, protect, and research these ancient reptiles for our future and for theirs.
TED: Turtle Excluder Device
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/images/20110429_5669891058.jpg
Works Cited
"Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) - Office of Protected
Resources – NOAA Fisheries." Green Turtle (Chelonia Mydas) -
Office of Protected Resources - NOAA Fisheries. NOAA Fisheries, 5 Dec.
2012. Web. 29 May 2013.
Greenblatt, R. J. et al. "Genomic Variation of the
Fibropapilloma-Associated Marine Turtle Herpesvirus across Seven Geographic
Areas and Three Host Species." Journal of Virology 79.2
(2004): 1125-132. Journal of Virology. American Society for
Microbiology, Jan. 2005. Web. 28 May 2013.
Kessler, Rebecca. "Sea Turtle Herpes Tumors
Linked to Sewage?" National Geographic. National Geographic
Society, 09 Nov. 2010. Web. 28 May 2013.
Page-Karjian et al. "Presence of Chelonid
Fibropapilloma-associated Herpesvirus in Tumored and Non-tumored Green Turtles,
as Detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction, in Endemic and Non-endemic
Aggregations, Puerto Rico." SpringerPlus 1.35 (2012): n.
pag. 17 Oct. 2012. Web. 28 May 2013.
Patricio, A. R. et al. "Global Phylogeography and Evolution
of Chelonid Fibropapilloma-associated Herpesvirus." Journal of General
Virology 93.5 (2012): 1035-045. Journal of General Virology.
Society for General Microbiology, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 28 May 2013.
"The Turtle
Hospital." The Turtle Hospital. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2013.
"Why Care About Sea Turtles?" Sea Turtle Conservancy.
Sea Turtle Conservancy, 2011. Web. 29 May 2013.
To Know Herpes Population : What Percentage Of The Population Has Herpes : Facts About herpesVisit The Link
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ReplyDeletethis type of sea turtle disease is existing in the Tanon Strait Protected Seascape in Visayas Philippines.. so sad that we can do nothing about it if we dont have CO2 laser.. But may a hot knife can solve it just tie the larger veins before cutting it..i guess? if you have some idea please Email me @ nibarienicolas07@gmail.com since i already encounter this kind of disease any experience about it could help if you guys will share, thank you so much!
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