Objective: First description of a herpesvirus in West African mud turtles.
Materials and methods: A herpesvirus was detected in two clinically healthy West African mud turtles (Pelusios castaneus) by PCR during a quarantine exam. The animals had been imported from Togo, West Africa to Germany for the pet trade.
Results: Analysis of a portion of the genome of the detected virus showed that it is a previously unknown virus related to other chelonid herpesviruses. The virus was named pelomedusid herpesvirus 1.
Discussion: This case highlights the importance of testing for infectious agents during quarantine, even in clinically healthy animals.
Keywords: PCR; Pelomedusidae; pelomedusid herpesvirus 1; quarantine; side-necked turtles.