Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Dna Barcoding Of Sea Turtle Leeches (Ozobranchus Spp.) In Florida Coastal Waters, Triet Minh Truong, Audrey E. Mcgowin Ph.D.

Chemistry Student Publications

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a neoplastic disease originally identified only on green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). The disease is likely to be terminal if tumors are developed internally, but external tumors on the eyes, mouth, and flippers can also lead to fatal impairment of vision and difficulty feeding and swimming. The involvement of an environmental cofactor appears possible since many FP outbreaks occur at sites of poor water quality in Florida, Hawaii, Brazil, and other similar places around the world, but outbreaks have also been recorded at less contaminated sites. Studies have shown an association between FP and the fibropapilloma-associated turtle …