Serologic and molecular evidence for testudinid herpesvirus 2 infection in wild Agassiz's desert tortoises, Gopherus agassizii

Abstract

Following field observations of wild Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) with oral lesions similar to those seen in captive tortoises with herpesvirus infection, we measured the prevalence of antibodies to Testudinid herpesvirus (TeHV) 3 in wild populations of desert tortoises in California. The survey revealed 30.9% antibody prevalence….