Fibropapillomatosis
Encyclopedia
Fibropapillomatosis is a condition characterized by the presence of fibropapillomas, neoplasms consisting of both the epidermal and dermal skin layers.

In sea turtles

Fibropapillomatosis of sea turtle
Sea turtle
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...

s is probably caused by a herpes-type virus, and is causing an epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...

 amongst sea turtles. Sea turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) was first discovered in 1938. FP is a disease marked by proliferation of benign but debilitating cutaneous fibropapillomas and occasional visceral alien.

In 20% of the cases, FP and herpesvirus are both present. All cases report a max. 2 cm between the FP and herpes spots. These results lead to the conclusion that a chelonian herpesvirus is regularly associated with fibropapillomatosis and is not merely an incidental finding in affected turtles.

In the 1990s, it was thought that this was a deadly condition for sea turtles and would quickly lead to the extinction of the green turtle, and possibly all species of marine turtles. Research eventually showed that some turtles can recuperate from the disease, with recovery chances increasing with age and size.

The histopathologic characteristics that distinguish these tumors from other forms of neoplasia
Neoplasia
Neoplasm is an abnormal mass of tissue as a result of neoplasia. Neoplasia is the abnormal proliferation of cells. The growth of neoplastic cells exceeds and is not coordinated with that of the normal tissues around it. The growth persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the...

 are a proliferation of both the epidermal and dermal skin layers. Fibropapillomas occur in other species besides sea turtles, such as cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...

, camelids, cervids, and sheep. These tumors are benign
Benign
A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks the ability to metastasize. Common examples of benign tumors include moles and uterine fibroids.The term "benign" implies a mild and nonprogressive disease. Indeed, many kinds of benign tumors are harmless to human health...

 and may spontaneously regress. Treatment consists of surgical removal, though tumors may recur if the tumors are not entirely and fully removed from the turtle's external covering. But, if the tumors are internal (growing on the lungs and trachea and also inside the throat) the turtle will not recover and will sooner or later die from the deadly disease.

A single stranded DNA virus
DNA virus
A DNA virus is a virus that has DNA as its genetic material and replicates using a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase. The nucleic acid is usually double-stranded DNA but may also be single-stranded DNA . DNA viruses belong to either Group I or Group II of the Baltimore classification system for viruses...

 with a circular genome - sea turtle tornovirus 1
Sea turtle tornovirus 1
Sea turtle tornovirus 1 is a single stranded DNA virus that was isolated from a turtle with fibropapillomatosis in 2009.-Virology:The genome is circular and ~1.8 kilobases in length with a G+C content of ~50%. It has at least three open reading frames and two others may also be present...

 - has been isolated from a sea turtle with fibropapillomatosis. It is sufficiently unrelated to any other known virus that it may belong to a new family. The closest relations seem to be the Gyrovirinae.

In other species

Fibropapillomas in species other than the sea turtles are thought to be caused by the bovine papillomavirus
Bovine papillomavirus
Bovine papillomavirus is a group of DNA viruses of the family Papillomaviridae that are common in cattle. Infection causes warts of the skin and alimentary tract, and more rarely cancers of the alimentary tract and urinary bladder...

or closely related viruses.

External links

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