Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Identification Of Sea Turtle Leeches Using Dna Barcoding, Triet Minh Truong, Audrey E. Mcgowin Ph.D., Adrian M. Corbett Ph.D.

Chemistry Student Publications

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a panzootic plaguing all species of sea turtles with green turtles having the highest percentage of affliction. Although fibropapilloma-associated turtle herpes virus (FPTHV) has been identified as the causative agent of FP, the primary vector triggering this chronic tumor-forming disease is still unknown. Parasitic marine leeches (Ozobranchus spp.) could be a potential mechanical vector behind the emergence of this panzootic, although it is uncertain if it is species specific. Ozobranchus spp. are very small and difficult to distinguish anatomically, and until now, there have been few attempts to document them. DNA barcoding using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase …