Investigating the epidemiology of adenoviruses in free-ranging turtles in Illinois

Adenoviruses (AdV) were first reported as a disease threat in chelonians during a mortality event in 2007 caused by a Siadenovirus later named Sulawesi tortoise adenovirus (STADV). Adenoviruses of another lineage, Testadenovirus, have been detected in multiple managed and free-ranging turtles in North America and Europe with variable or unknown relationships to clinical disease. This leaves a large gap in understanding the prevalence and impact of AdV in many turtle species. Therefore, a multi-species investigation to detect novel or existing adenoviruses in Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) and red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) using conventional PCR across four counties in Illinois from 2016-2022 was performed. Ten AdV were identified across the three species, with STADV being the most common virus species detected. Subsequently, a highly sensitive and specific TaqMan quantitative PCR assay targeting the DNA polymerase gene of STADV was developed. The newly developed and validated qPCR assay was used to test oral cloacal samples from Blanding’s turtles, painted turtles and red-eared sliders sampled across three Illinois counties from 2017-2022. The prevalence of STADV was 2.4% for Blanding’s turtle samples (n=14), 14.9% for painted turtle samples (n=24), and 45.1% for red-eared slider samples (n=37). Clinical signs associated with STADV detection included quiet, alert, responsive (QAR) mentation (p=0.002), pink mucous membranes (p<0.001), carapacial abnormalities (p=0.036), and plastron abnormalities (p=0.003). These results provide a baseline for the presence and diversity of AdV in free-ranging turtles in Illinois, including evidence that freshwater emydid turtles, such as red-eared sliders or painted turtles, may be the North American reservoir for STADV.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

VMS-Veterinary Clinical Medcne

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Ready, Zachary C.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Allender, Matthew C
• Adamovicz, Laura
• Langan, Jennifer
• Dreslik, Michael

• Adenovirus
• Blanding's Turtle
• Chrysemys Picta
• Emydoidea Blandingii
• Painted Turtle
• Red-eared Slider
• Sulawesi Tortoise Adenovirus
• Trachemys Scripta Elegans

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Zachary Ready

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124151

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F124151