ABSTRACT
This study reports the first case of fibropapillomatosis (FP) in the green turtle Chelonia mydas that has been successfully diagnosed and treated in Colombia. Worldwide, FP has reached epizootic proportions as it has been reported in marine turtles of tropical and subtropical waters, and in severe cases, it reduces the probability of survival. Treatment has been elusive as multiple surgical excisions are needed due to tumor recurrence. In this case, one green turtle with multiple tumors was diagnosed by histopathology and molecular detection of the chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) by means of amplification and sequencing of the DNA polymerase (DNApol) gene. Two separate treatments that consisted of autogenous vaccines and surgical excisions were applied; the first one had a partial success as one out of the tumors treated reappeared after 3 months post-treatment. Treatment 2 consisted of an autogenous vaccine enriched with adjuvants and applied at increasing doses, after which, the tumor significatively decreased in size and was surgically removed. At the end of the 6 months follow-up period, no tumor recurrence was observed, and the turtle was in apparent optimal health conditions. These findings, although limited, suggest a possible treatment that might help to contain this epizootic problem.
ABSTRACT
From September 1993 to August 2001, 7,190 phlebotomine were collected with CDC light trap in an endemic area for human leishmaniasis, in the departments of Misiones and Itap a, Paraguay. Eleven species were identified: Lutzomyia neivai (93.7%), L. whitmani (4.1%), and L. fischeri, L. shannoni, L. migonei, L. misionensis, L. cortelezzii, L. pessoai, L. alphabetica, Brumptomyia avellari and B. guimaraesi (less than 1%). The last three species are new records for the country. The biodiversity and phlebotomine abundance were associated with the proximity to primary forest or gallery forest, but L. neivai was also found in peridomestic periurban environment. L. neivai was found throughout the year, and showed a period of higher activity from September to April (spring to fall) with a unimodal or bimodal pattern in relation to the annual rainy peaks during the summer. Background literature about phlebotomine from Paraguay has been reviewed.
Subject(s)
Insect Vectors/classification , Psychodidae/classification , Animals , Ecosystem , Paraguay , Population Density , SeasonsABSTRACT
From September 1993 to August 2001, 7,190 phlebotomine were collected with CDC light trap in an endemic area for human leishmaniasis, in the departments of Misiones and Itapúa, Paraguay. Eleven species were identified: Lutzomyia neivai (93.7 percent), L. whitmani (4.1 percent), and L. fischeri, L. shannoni, L. migonei, L. misionensis, L. cortelezzii, L. pessoai, L. alphabetica, Brumptomyia avellari and B. guimaraesi (less than 1 percent). The last three species are new records for the country. The biodiversity and phlebotomine abundance were associated with the proximity to primary forest or gallery forest, but L. neivai was also found in peridomestic periurban environment. L. neivai was found throughout the year, and showed a period of higher activity from September to April (spring to fall) with a unimodal or bimodal pattern in relation to the annual rainy peaks during the summer. Background literature about phlebotomine from Paraguay has been reviewed