ABSTRACT

Nine green sea turtles, Chelonia mydas, were presented to two rehabilitation facilities on the Texas coast with cutaneous growths consistent with fibropapillomatosis. Complete blood counts, radiographs, and computed tomography were performed for further evaluation. No evidence of internal tumors was present using either imaging modality. Treatment included surgical excision of the cutaneous tumors. Histopathologic analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed with the tissue samples collected. Histopathology revealed characteristic inclusions in only three (33%) individuals, and PCR results for fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpesvirus were positive for eight (89%) of nine individuals submitted. To our knowledge, this is the first report of fibropapillomatosis in a green sea turtle on the Texas coast.