OBSERVATIONS OF FIBROPAPILLOMATOSIS IN GREEN TURTLES (CHELONIA-MYDAS)IN INDONESIA

Objective To determine the prevalence and manifestations of fibropapil lomatosis in green turtles in Indonesia, to identify any relationship between fibropapillomatosis and concurrent parasitic infection, to asc ertain the effect of fibropapillomatosis on health, and to examine whe ther environment might have an effect on the prevalence of fibropapill omatosis. Procedure 4407 green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 401 hawksb ill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) were examined. The occurrence of fibropapillomatosis was correlated with sex, maturity, curved carapace length, body weight/curved carapace length ratio, the number and dist ribution of tumours on the skin, parasite burdens, some haematological variables and the region of capture. Results Fibropapillomatosis was seen only in green turtles, and the overall prevalence in these was 21 .5%. This prevalence increased with the curved carapace length up to 8 5 cm. The average number of tumours per affected turtle was 5 +/- SD 4 .1 (range, 1 to 29), and was negatively correlated with the body weigh t/curved carapace length ratio (rs = -0.8; P = 0.001). The red blood c ell count in turtles with fibropapilloma was lower than in non-fibropa pilloma turtles captured and examined at the same time (P = 0.001). Th e prevalence of fibropapilloma in turtles captured near densely popula ted, industrial regions (26.3%) was greater than in turtles from spars ely populated areas (17.7%). Conclusion Fibropapillomatosis in green s ea turtles in Indonesia is of moderate occurrence; young mature turtle s (curved carapace length = 85 cm) are most frequently affected. Fibro papilloma adversely affects health of turtles. Fluke infestation seems not to be a causal factor, but viral infection, perhaps with concurre nt stress of environmental origin, seems likely.