A<i>Mycoplasma</i>Species of Emydidae Turtles in the Northeastern USA

Ossiboff, Robert J.; Raphael, Bonnie L.; Ammazzalorso, Alyssa D.; Seimon, Tracie A.; Niederriter, Holly; Zarate, Brian; Newton, Alisa L.; McAloose, Denise

doi:10.7589/2014-04-086

Cited by 33 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…All positive samples from the pond sliders and the positive samples from the box turtle and the giant Asian pond turtle were also sequenced and showed 99-100% sequence identity with previously described Mycoplasma spp. of emydid turtles (accessions KJ623622.1-KJ623625.1 and FJ59564.1) 16,54 and 98% sequence identity with Mycoplasma spp. described in tortoises (accessions HQ326265.1-HQ326277.1).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…prevalences of 30% in eastern box turtles ( n = 23) from Virgina, 18 7.3–22% (depending on the region) in western pond turtles and red-eared sliders ( n = 178) from California, 63 and 58.3% in different emydid turtles from the northeastern United States. 54 The high percentage of Mycoplasma spp. in our study could be because the submitted samples were derived from animals that were under veterinary care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…show high sequence identity. 54 Mycoplasma-positive turtles have been described with URTD-like syndromes (nasal and ocular discharge, swollen eyelids), 18 but also without any clinical signs. 16,54,63 Herpesviruses described in chelonians belong to the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, family Herpesviridae.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses, topiviruses, and ferlaviruses in samples from chelonians in Europe

2017

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We tested samples from 1,015 chelonians in Europe for Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses, ranaviruses, picornaviruses, and ferlaviruses by PCR. Mycoplasma spp. were detected in 42.1% and herpesviruses were detected in 8.0% of tested chelonians. Differentiation of the herpesviruses revealed that 46.9% of the detected chelonian viruses were testudinid herpesvirus 1 (TeHV-1) and 54.3% were TeHV-3, including co-detections of TeHV-1 and -3 in 3 tortoises. TeHV-4 was detected in a leopard tortoise ( Stigmochelys pardalis), and a herpesvirus that could not be further characterized was found in a pond slider ( Trachemys scripta). Picornaviruses (topiviruses) were detected in 2.2% of the tested animals; ferlaviruses were found in 0.6%; no ranaviruses were detected in any of the animals tested. Mycoplasma spp. were detected significantly more often in Horsfield's tortoises ( Testudo horsfieldii), leopard tortoises, and Indian star tortoises ( Geochelone elegans) than in other species. Horsfield's tortoises were also significantly more often positive for TeHV-1. Mycoplasma and TeHV-1 were co-detected in 3.0%, and mycoplasma and TeHV-3 in 2.3%. The TeHV-4-positive tortoise was also positive for mycoplasma. Mycoplasma and picornaviruses were co-detected in 1.2% of the tortoises. A spur-thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca) was positive for mycoplasma and a ferlavirus. In some cases, >2 pathogens were detected. A significant correlation between mycoplasma and herpesvirus detection was found. Of all tested animals, 47.6% were positive for at least one pathogen, demonstrating the importance of pathogen detection in captive chelonians.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses, topiviruses, and ferlaviruses in samples from chelonians in Europe

2017

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“…Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall and is primarily obligate commensals or parasites. Some species of Mycoplasma are significant pathogens of birds, mammals, fish, and reptiles, although many of them are harmless commensals to the hosts ( Bano et al, 2007 ; Ossiboff et al, 2015 ). The overwhelming dominance of Mycoplasma have been reported in the fish gut or oyster stomach ( Bano et al, 2007 ; King et al, 2012 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diets Alter the Gut Microbiome of Crocodile Lizards

Jiang

Ma²,

et al. 2017

Front. Microbiol.

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The crocodile lizard is a critically endangered reptile, and serious diseases have been found in this species in recent years, especially in captive lizards. Whether these diseases are caused by changes in the gut microbiota and the effect of captivity on disease remains to be determined. Here, we examined the relationship between the gut microbiota and diet and disease by comparing the fecal microbiota of wild lizards with those of sick and healthy lizards in captivity. The gut microbiota in wild crocodile lizards was consistently dominated by Proteobacteria (∼56.4%) and Bacteroidetes (∼19.1%). However, the abundance of Firmicutes (∼2.6%) in the intestine of the wild crocodile lizards was distinctly lower than that in other vertebrates. In addition, the wild samples from Guangdong Luokeng Shinisaurus crocodilurus National Nature Reserve also had a high abundance of Deinococcus–Thermus while the wild samples from Guangxi Daguishan Crocodile Lizard National Nature Reserve had a high abundance of Tenericutes. The gut microbial community in loach-fed crocodile lizards was significantly different from the gut microbial community in the earthworm-fed and wild lizards. In addition, significant differences in specific bacteria were detected among groups. Notably, in the gut microbiota, the captive lizards fed earthworms resulted in enrichment of Fusobacterium, and the captive lizards fed loaches had higher abundances of Elizabethkingia, Halomonas, Morganella, and Salmonella, all of which are pathogens or opportunistic pathogens in human or other animals. However, there is no sufficient evidence that the gut microbiota contributes to either disease A or disease B. These results provide a reference for the conservation of endangered crocodile lizards and the first insight into the relationship between disease and the gut microbiota in lizards.

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“…Mycoplasma spp. have also been identified in free-ranging Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) with upper respiratory tract disease (Feldman et al 2006) and free-ranging, asymptomatic Eastern box turtles, bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), and spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) (Ossiboff et al 2015c).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology of Emydoidea Herpesvirus 1 in Free-Ranging Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii) From Illinois

Lindemann¹,

Allender²,

Thompson³

et al. 2019

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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While herpesvirus infections have been associated with high morbidity and mortality in populations of captive Emydid chelonians worldwide, novel herpesviruses (Terrapene herpesvirus 1, Emydid herpesvirus 1 and 2, and Glyptemys herpesvirus 1 and 2) have also recently been identified in apparently healthy free-ranging Emydid populations. The clinical significance of this finding in the absence of an outbreak is currently unknown. The authors hypothesize that herpesvirus prevalence may be used as a sentinel of population health due to the virus' propensity to recrudesce in times of stress or concurrent disease. Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), an endangered species in Illinois, have experienced range-wide declines because of habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. While ongoing studies are crucial to a thorough understanding of the natural history and demographics in disjointed Illinois populations, infectious disease threats have been largely unevaluated. In 2015, 20 free-ranging Blanding's turtles in DuPage County, Illinois were screened for a herpesvirus using consensus PCR. A novel herpesvirus, Emydoidea herpesvirus 1 (EBHV1), was identified. Subsequently, the investigators developed a highly sensitive and specific TaqMan ® quantitative PCR assay to target the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase gene of EBHV1. Validation results indicate that this assay is specific for EBHV1, has a linear range of detection from 10 8-10 1 viral copies per reaction, and can categorically detect as few as 1 viral copy per reaction. In an epidemiological investigation, combined oral-cloacal swabs were collected from radiotelemetered and trapped Blanding's turtles in DuPage (n=60 turtles) and Lake (n=81 turtles) County from May-September 2016. Repeated samples of 50 adult females had a significantly higher prevalence of EBHV1 in May (23.8%, n=10) than June (2.9%, n=1), July (0%, n=0), August (0%, n=0), or September (7.7%, n=3) (odds ratio [OR]: 12.97; 95% CI: 3.83-43.92). This corresponds to the onset of nesting and may be associated with increased physiologic demands; however, all positive turtles were negative in subsequent months. Furthermore, there were no clinical signs associated with any turtle at the time they were detected with EBHV1. This investigation is the critical first step to characterizing the implications of EBHV1 on Blanding's turtle population health and identifying management changes that may improve sustainability.

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AMycoplasmaSpecies of Emydidae Turtles in the Northeastern USA

Cited by 33 publications

References 13 publications

Detection of Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses, topiviruses, and ferlaviruses in samples from chelonians in Europe

Detection of Mycoplasma spp., herpesviruses, topiviruses, and ferlaviruses in samples from chelonians in Europe

Diets Alter the Gut Microbiome of Crocodile Lizards

Epidemiology of Emydoidea Herpesvirus 1 in Free-Ranging Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii) From Illinois

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