Emerging diseases of marine turtles

Abstract

This literature review explores two emerging pathogens currently affecting two already vulnerable sea turtle species. Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is linked to a herpesvirus in Green Sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), known to cause tumours on the skin and surface of visceral organs, causing problems such as impaired vision, locomotion and feeding difficulties, which can be fatal if left untreated. Fusarium infections in Loggerhead Sea turtles (Caretta caretta) are most often caused by fungal species from the Fusarium solani species complex, resulting in lesions such as sloughing of the skin and carapace, colonising nests, infecting eggs and killing embryos.