Fibropapillomatosis in free-ranging green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) off the central coast of Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

espanolLa fibropapilomatosis (FP) es una enfermedad neoplasica que afecta a las tortugas marinas en aguas tropicales. Los individuos juveniles de tortuga verde (Chelonia mydas) parecen ser los mas afectados por los tumores cutaneos, que no son malignos, pero dependiendo de su numero, tamano y ubicacion, pueden comprometer la supervivencia. La prevalencia de la FP en tortugas marinas ha incrementado en las decadas pasadas en zonas como Espirito Santo (Brasil) y Texas (EUA), pero en Mexico pocos casos han sido documentados a la fecha. Durante 2017–2018 se registro por primera vez una prevalencia de FP del 12.2% en tortugas de vida libre en el Parque Nacional Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano, un area sujeta a la presion ambiental y la presion antropica. De acuerdo con el analisis histopatologico de una muestra de tejido, los tumores fueron consistentes con las caracteristicas de fibropapilomas. Los tumores no fueron severos (0.01–7.16 cm), pero la mayoria tuvo una apariencia verrugosa y se encontraron en las aletas y los ojos, lo que podria representar un riesgo potencial para la salud de los juveniles. Se recomienda continuar el monitoreo de esta poblacion, y la informacion aportada aqui puede servir de base para estudios futuros en aguas mexicanas del golfo de Mexico, en donde la FP no habia sido reportada aun. EnglishFibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease affecting marine turtles around the tropics. Juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) seem to be the most affected by the cutaneous tumors, which are not malignant but depending on their number, size, and location, can hamper survival. FP prevalence in sea turtles has increased over the past few decades in areas such as Espirito Santo (Brazil) and Texas (USA), but in Mexico few instances have been documented to date. Here we report a 12.2% FP prevalence in free-ranging turtles captured during 2017–2018 in the Veracruz Reef System National Park, a previously unreported site in Mexico, which is subject to environ-mental and anthropogenic pressures. Histopathological analysis of one tissue sample revealed tumors were consistent with the characteristics of fibropapillomas. They were not severe (0.01–7.16 cm), but the majority had a verrucous appearance and were mainly found on the flippers and eyes, being potentially detrimental to the health of juvenile turtles. We recommend continued monitoring of this population, and the information provided here can serve as a baseline for future studies in this area of the Gulf of Mexico, where FP had not been reported.