Evidence for low prevalence of ranaviruses in Ontario, Canada's freshwater turtle population.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ontario, Canada is home to eight native species of turtles; all eight are federally listed as Species At Risk, due to anthropogenic threats. However, until recently, reports of infectious disease have been lacking. Ranavirus is seen as an emerging threat for ectotherms globally, with mass die-offs most often reported in amphibians. Ranavirus has been detected in Ontario's amphibian populations, can be transmitted via water, and can be transmitted from amphibians to turtles. However, no studies on the prevalence of this virus in Ontario's turtles have previously been carried out. With recent reports of two confirmed positive case of ranavirus in turtles in Ontario, a knowledge of the ecology of ranavirus in Ontario's turtles has become even more important. This study esti

SUBMITTER: Carstairs SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6532614 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature