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Note. From Manes et al. (2023b), Green turtle fibropapillomatosis: Tumor morphology and growth rate in a rehabilitation setting , licensed under CC BY 4.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) leads to the formation of external and internal tumors in turtles. The causative agent responsible for FP is primarily Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5). Green sea turtles are commonly affected by this disease, but all seven species of sea turtles can harbor FP. Environmental factors (e.g., chemical pollutants) and vector organisms (i.e., leeches) may contribute to the disease. There is no specific vaccine or medication for this disease.
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Note. From Hastain et al. (2023), What is your diagnosis? Ulcerative shell lesions from a diamond-backed terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) , licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Emydomyces testavorans infection has been closely associated with ulcerative shell disease that primarily affects aquatic chelonians. E. testavorans is a fungal pathogen closely related to other fungi responsible for emerging diseases affecting reptile species. Infection leads to shell and skin lesions. However, clinical signs have not always been present in positive detection of pathogen. Treatment requires further research, but certain antifungal medications have been suggested to be an effective treatment. Preventative measures can help maintain the health of turtle populations. Additional caution should take place, as E. testavorans infection is not the sole cause of ulcerative shell disease. This includes bacterial pathogens and poor husbandry conditions.
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Note. From Martínez-Ríos et al. (2025), Trachemys scripta eggs as part of a potential in vivo model for studying sea turtle egg fusariosis, licensed under CC BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF) is a globally emerging fungal disease that affects all seven sea turtle species. Species belonging to the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), particularly Fusarium keratoplasticum (Fk) and Fusarium falciforme (Ff), have been identified as the causative agent of STEF. These fungal pathogens have also been discovered to infect humans and plants. Clinical signs of this disease include discoloration and hyphal mats on the outer shells. STEF is highly associated with reduced hatching success. There is no specific treatment for STEF, as certain FSSC species are resistant to most antifungal agents. Therefore, continuous surveillance and preventative methods play a significant role in controlling the spread of this disease.
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