Genetic, spectroscopy and the ultrastructural analysis of fibropapiloma of Chelonia mydas

• Grant number: 10/18976-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2011
• End date: December 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Cristina Pacheco Soares
• Grantee: Samara Maftoum Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the largest turtle with a rigid carapace. The green turtle has a wide distribution, occurring mostly in tropical and subtropical seas, near continental coasts or around islands. The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers the green turtle to be an endangered species. The existence of the green turtle has been endangered because their eggs and meat were harvested, their habitat suffered from pollution and human development and they are predisposed to contract fibropapillomatosis (FP). FP is a disease characterized by multiple tumors in the epidermis of the green turtle that can disrupt actions necessary for survival. Discovered in 1958, the disease was once thought to only be a rare occurrence. However, the past two decades have shown an increase in frequency as well as the contraction of FP by other turtle species. Today, the route of transmission remains unknown. Current research has shown a correlation between the appearance of FP and a strain of herpesvirus called Chelonid Fibropapillomatosis-Associated Herpesvirus (CPHV). The purpose of this research project is to study the connection between CPHV and heavy metals with FP in the coastal waters of Ubatuba-SP. (AU)