Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link
Volume 30, Number 2—February 2024
Research

Piscichuvirus-Associated Severe Meningoencephalomyelitis in Aquatic Turtles, United States, 2009–2021

Weerapong Laovechprasit, Kelsey T. Young, Brian A. Stacy, Steven B. Tillis, Robert J. Ossiboff, Jordan A. Vann, Kuttichantran Subramaniam, Dalen W. Agnew, Elizabeth W. Howerth, Jian Zhang, Shayna Whitaker, Alicia Walker, Andrew M. Orgill, Lyndsey N. Howell, Donna J. Shaver, Kyle Donnelly, Allen M. Foley, and James B. StantonComments to Author 
Author affiliations: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA (W. Laovechprasit, K.T. Young, E.W. Howerth, J. Zhang, J.B. Stanton); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA (B.A. Stacy, L.N. Howell); University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA (S.B. Tillis, R.J. Ossiboff, J.A. Vann, K. Subramaniam); Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan, USA (D.W. Agnew); Amos Rehabilitation Keep at University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, Texas, USA (S. Whitaker, A. Walker, A.M. Orgill); National Park Service at Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA (D.J. Shaver); Brevard Zoo and Sea Turtle Healing Center, Melbourne, Florida, USA (K. Donnelly); Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Jacksonville, Florida, USA (A.M. Foley)

Main Article

Table 1

Biographical information and results summary of 5 turtles positive for FTuNV1 or STuNV1, United States, 2009–2021*

Animal no., common name (taxonomic name) Sex SCL, cm Life stage† Stranding location‡
 Clinical signs Sequencing ISH (FTuNV1/ STuNV1)
Latitude, °N Longitude, °W
1, Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys sp.)
 M
 56.5
 M
 29.524879
 82.300594
 Weak and lethargic
 FTuNV1
 (+/−)
2, Kemp’s ridley turtle 
(Lepidochelys kempii)
 F
 60.3
 I
 27.67338
 97.16880
 Persistent circling and asymmetric buoyancy
 STuNV1
 (–/+)
3, Loggerhead turtle 
(Caretta caretta)
 M
 94.0
 M
 30.230591
 87.910237
 Unresponsive
 STuNV1
 (ND/+)
4, Loggerhead turtle 
(C. caretta)
 F
 81.8
 M
 28.04815
 80.57892
 Weak
 ND
 (ND/+)
5, Loggerhead turtle 
(C. caretta) F 83.7 I 28.20726 80.65725 Head tremor and cervical ventroflexion ND (ND/+)

*FTuNV1, freshwater turtle neural virus 1; I, immature; ISH, in situ hybiridization; M, mature; ND, not done; SCL, straight carapace length; STuNV1, sea turtle neural virus 1. †Life stage estimation was based on the maturation of the reproductive system. ‡Latitude and longitude values correspond to the stranding locations as shown in Figure 1.

Main Article

Page created: December 21, 2023
Page updated: January 24, 2024
Page reviewed: January 24, 2024
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external