Ready Zachary C, Adamovicz Laura, Daleo Maris, Simmons Amber, Glowacki Gary, Graser William, Anchor Chris, Thompson Dan, Allender Matthew C
Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA.
Illinois Zoological and Aquatic Animal Medicine Residency, University of Illinois, Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, Illinois 60513, USA.
J Wildl Dis. 2025 Apr 1;61(2):408-418. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-24-00124.
Sulawesi tortoise adenovirus (STADV) has been implicated in a mortality event involving three endangered species of tortoises and detected in free-living painted turtles (Chrysemys picta); however, the epidemiology of this virus in North American turtles remains unclear. The specific objectives of this study were to 1) estimate the prevalence of STADV in free-living Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), painted turtles, and red-eared sliders (RES; Trachemys scripta elegans) in Illinois, US, using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and 2) determine if qPCR prevalence is associated with location, sex, age class, blood parameters, or clinical signs across these three species. Oral-cloacal swabs from 581 Blanding's turtles, 137 painted turtles, and 82 RES sampled across three counties from 2017 to 2022 were evaluated via qPCR. The prevalence of STADV was 2.4% for Blanding's turtles, 14.9% for painted turtles, and 45% for RES. Blanding's turtle subadults (P=0.022) and painted turtle adults (P<0.0001) were more likely to test positive than other age classes within the same species, while no age class association was found in RES (P=0.5). Clinical signs associated with STADV detection included quiet, alert, responsive mentation (P=0.002), pink mucous membranes (P<0.001), carapacial abnormalities (P=0.036), and plastron abnormalities (P=0.003). In a multivariable model, significant predictors for STADV detection included species, with painted turtles (P<0.0001) and RES (P=0.001) more likely to test positive than Blanding's turtles, and year, with turtles sampled in 2021 less likely to test positive than those sampled in 2017 (P=0.005). Detection of STADV was not significantly associated with location, month, sex, hematologic findings, serum biochemical findings, or protein electrophoretic profiles. Widespread molecular detection of STADV in these three species suggests a possible origin for the virus in the outbreak described in 2009, underscoring the importance of epidemiology studies to aid in the management of free-living and managed chelonians.
苏拉威西陆龟腺病毒（STADV）被认为与一起涉及三种濒危陆龟的死亡事件有关，并在野生锦龟（彩龟）中被检测到；然而，这种病毒在北美龟类中的流行病学情况仍不清楚。本研究的具体目标是：1）使用定量聚合酶链反应（qPCR）估计美国伊利诺伊州野生布氏拟龟（Emydoidea blandingii）、锦龟和红耳龟（RES；滑龟指名亚种Trachemys scripta elegans）中STADV的流行率；2）确定qPCR检测到的流行率是否与这三个物种的地理位置、性别、年龄组、血液参数或临床症状相关。对2017年至2022年在三个县采集的581只布氏拟龟、137只锦龟和82只红耳龟的口腔泄殖腔拭子进行qPCR评估。布氏拟龟中STADV的流行率为2.4%，锦龟为14.9%，红耳龟为45%。布氏拟龟亚成体（P=0.022）和锦龟成体（P<0.0001）比同一物种内的其他年龄组更有可能检测呈阳性，而在红耳龟中未发现年龄组关联（P=0.5）。与检测到STADV相关的临床症状包括安静、警觉、反应灵敏（P=0.002）、粉红色黏膜（P<0.001）、背甲异常（P=0.036）和腹甲异常（P=0.003）。在多变量模型中，STADV检测的显著预测因素包括物种，锦龟（P<0.0001）和红耳龟（P=0.001）比布氏拟龟更有可能检测呈阳性，以及年份，2021年采样的龟比2017年采样的龟检测呈阳性的可能性更小（P=0.005）。STADV的检测与地理位置、月份、性别、血液学检查结果、血清生化检查结果或蛋白质电泳图谱均无显著关联。在这三个物种中广泛进行STADV的分子检测表明，该病毒可能是2009年所述疫情的源头，强调了流行病学研究对协助管理野生和人工养殖龟类的重要性。
