Australian scientists in the midst of investigating a herpes outbreak among fleeceable sea polo-neck at the Great Barrier Reef say the blight — which causes unnatural growing on the skin , mouth , eyes , and inner organ — is likely due to contamination .
For the past three years , Karina Jones from James Cook University in Townsville , Australia , has been investigating fibropapillomatosis ( FP ) among green sea turtles in the Great Barrier Reef . This condition , triggered by a turtle - specific herpes virus computer virus , stimulate disfiguring tumors around the eyes armpits , crotch , neck and flippers . The neoplasm are benign , but they can often direct to dying , as the growths can obstruct a turtle ’s vision and prevent them from finding food or invalidate predators and boats . It also pass water them more vulnerable to further infection .
scientist are n’t sure how or why sea turtles get the disease , or why it ’s pop out to spread like wildfire . Indeed , other parts of the earthly concern are record similar outbreaks , including Florida and Hawaii . Forty class ago , FP was seen in about 28 to 67 percent of ocean turtle . Today , it ’s as high as 92 percentage in sealed realm , and it ’s most salient in warm climate .
As New Scientist nowreports , an unpublished survey by Jones ’ team shows that rates of the herpes computer virus is most judge along a specific stretch of water at Magnetic Island , which happens to be a popular holidaymaker attraction at the Rand . The squad ’s enquiry shows that about one-half of the turtles in these waters have FP , compared to 10 percentage elsewhere around Cockle Bay .
This novel inquiry bolsters the trace that a connection live between FP and human activity . Previousresearchhas shown a unattackable correlation between cheeseparing - shoring home ground and the disease .
Importantly , this virus subsist around the earth , and many turtle bear the virus — but it ’s often dormant . “ We think there must be some external trigger that cause the tumour development , ” noted Jones in New Scientist . That “ external trigger ” is potential pollution , but these investigator are n’t sure which contaminants are responsible . Looking onwards , her team design to evaluate diachronic urine quality data and test water samples for chemical substance like arduous metals , pesticides , and plant food . The researchers will also collect rake samples and swabs from turtle to find out what ’s going on at a physiologic degree .
It ’s a daunting undertaking , but this employment is tremendously important . Green sea turtles are classified as an menace mintage , currently threatened by overharvesting of their eggs , hunting of adults , fishing gear , and a loss of nesting beach sites . They do n’t need another enemy .
[ New Scientist ]
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