title: Identification of a novel herpesvirus in captive Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina).
abstract: Herpesviruses are significant pathogens of chelonians which most commonly cause upper respiratory tract disease and necrotizing stomatitis. Herpesvirus infection was identified in two populations of captive Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) using histopathology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with DNA sequencing. Necrotizing lesions with eosinophilic to amphophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were identified in the tissues of one hatch-year individual in January 2013, which was herpesvirus positive by PCR. A separate captive group of adults had an observed herpesvirus prevalence of 58% using PCR in July 2011. In these cases, a novel herpesvirus, Terrapene herpesvirus 1 (TerHV1), was identified and serves as the first herpesvirus sequenced in the genus Terrapene. Similar to the other herpesviruses of the Order Testudines, TerHV1 clusters with the genus Scutavirus of the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae.
authors.affiliation: Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Drive, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA. Electronic address: rsim@birminghamzoo.com.
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Jekyll Island Authority, 214 Stable Road, Jekyll Island, GA 31527, USA.
authors.forename: Terry M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.affiliation: Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Drive, Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bronson
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Allender
authors.affiliation: Busch Gardens/SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, 3605 East Bougainvillea Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stedman
authors.affiliation: Zoological Medicine Service, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100126, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: April L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Childress
authors.affiliation: Zoological Medicine Service, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100126, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: James F X
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wellehan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D014426:Turtles / Q000821:virology*
keywords: Eastern box turtle; Emydidae; Herpesvirus; Scutavirus; TerHV1; Terrapene carolina carolina