This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) An erratum has been published Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (9) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Origgi, F. C. Articles by Jacobson, E. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Origgi, F. C. Articles by Jacobson, E. R.

Experimental Transmission of a Herpesvirus in Greek Tortoises (Testudo graeca)

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (FCO, ERJ, SJT) and Department of Pathobiology (FCO, CHR, JMG), College of Veterinary Medicine, and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (DCB) and Department of Pathology (PAK), College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

An experimental transmission study aimed at fulfilling Koch's postulates for a herpesvirus-associated stomatitis-rhinitis in Mediterranean tortoises is presented. Clinical, pathologic, serologic, and molecular studies were performed linking tortoise herpesvirus with the pathogenesis of stomatitis-rhinitis. Four adult Greek tortoises received either intranasally or intramuscularly two tortoise herpesvirus isolates by primary experimental infection and secondary challenge 11 months later. After the primary experimental infection and the secondary challenge, clinical signs of illness developed, which included conjunctivitis, diphtheritic oral plaques, and oral discharge. At 4 weeks after the secondary challenge, all tortoises were humanely euthanatized and evaluated. Although neutralizing antibodies developed after the primary experimental infection, they apparently did not prevent the later development of recurrent clinical signs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription–PCR analyses allowed sensitive characterization of the systemic distribution of the herpesvirus DNA sequences and their presence in the cranial nerves and brains of the infected tortoises. Despite the failure to recover the herpesviruses used in the transmission study, the findings support the premise that tortoise herpes-virus is a primary pathogen of Greek tortoises.

Key words: Disease; ELISA; herpesvirus; pathology; PCR; RT-PCR; SN; tortoises; virus.

Request reprints from Dr. F. C. Origgi, Human Virology Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20123 Milano (Italy). E-mail: origgi.francesco{at}hsr.it.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Chaffin, T. M. Norton, K. Gilardi, R. Poppenga, J. B. Jensen, P. Moler, C. Cray, E. S. Dierenfeld, T. Chen, M. Oliva, et al. HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF FREE-RANGING ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLES (MACROCHELYS TEMMINCKII) IN GEORGIA AND FLORIDA J. Wildl. Dis., July 1, 2008; 44(3): 670 - 686. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. J. Innis, M. M. Garner, A. J. Johnson, J. F.X. Wellehan, C. Tabaka, R. E. Marschang, R. W. Nordhausen, and E. R. Jacobson Antemortem diagnosis and characterization of nasal intranuclear coccidiosis in Sulawesi tortoises (Indotestudo forsteni) J Vet Diagn Invest, November 1, 2007; 19(6): 660 - 667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Johnson, A. P. Pessier, and E. R. Jacobson Experimental Transmission and Induction of Ranaviral Disease in Western Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) and Red-Eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) Vet. Pathol., May 1, 2007; 44(3): 285 - 297. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Allender, M. M. Fry, A. R. Irizarry, L. Craig, A. J. Johnson, and M. Jones Intracytoplasmic inclusions in circulating leukocytes from an eastern box turtle (terrapene Carolina Carolina) with iridoviral infection. J. Wildl. Dis., July 1, 2006; 42(3): 677 - 684. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]