This disease affects a large variety of marine turtle species. The species that are the most severely affected include the green (Chelonia mydas), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta). To date this disease has not been documented in hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata).

The lesions associated with this disease are fibromas, papillomas cutaneous, and fibropapillomas.

Background History

The first report of the disease was registered in Manhattan in 1936. Later, a description of the disease was recorded for the first time in Hawaii.

Disease Distribution

This epizootic disease is found in different populations around the world such as in zones where human impacts are high and also in zones where water availability is low. The major occurrences of the disease occur in the winter with high tumor growth taking place during the summer.

Most of the data related to fibropapillomas in marine turtles (mostly green) are from the Hawaiian Pacific and the Florida Caribbean coast. In Hawaii, FP is the major cause of sickness and fatality in green turtles with a prevalence of 40–60% in the islands of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui. Levels found in Florida are similar.

External tumors impede the turtle’s ability to move and feed. Internal tumors affect the kidneys (causing urinary problems), liver, lungs (causing pneumonia), and the intestinal tract. Juveniles are the most susceptible to this disease. This disease is predominant in juveniles (4-10 years) that weigh 10-30 kg and have a long curve carapace (lcc) that measures 40–90 cm. For this reason, the presence of FP in juveniles could have implications on marine turtle populations because this stage of development is very important for the overall long-term survival of the species.

All of the above-mentioned reasons identify the need to determine the epizootiology and geographic distribution of FP in the Mexican Caribbean.

Pathology

Three lesions primarily associated with FP are fibromas, papillomas cutaneous, and fibropapillomas. These lesions can vary in quantity, texture (smooth or ulcered) and size (0.1 to 30 cm). The lesions in internal organs are white nodes and found embedded in the parenchyma and are metastatic disease.

Histopathology

Hyperplasia of the skin with vesicles of cytoplasm and first substrate skin.

Etiology

The disease is caused by a variety of stress agents such as bacterial infections, UV radiation, ingested snail parasites from the species espiroquidea, bloodsuckers, chemical contaminants, immune deficiencies, viruses from the family Herpetoviridae and Papillomaviridae.

Diagnostics

Early detection can be accomplished with the use of surgical tests like the determination of monoclonal antibodies, clinical evaluation, or histopathological cuts of tumors.

Treatment

Surgical removal of the tumors.

Tumor in internal cavity, found on Isla Contoy