Evolutionary Comparisons of Chelonid Alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) Genomes from Fibropapillomatosis-Afflicted Green (Chelonia mydas), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) Sea Turtles

The spreading global sea turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) epizootic is threatening some of Earth’s ancient reptiles, adding to the plethora threats faced by these keystone species. Understanding this neoplastic disease and its likely aetiological pathogen, chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5), crucial understand how impacts populations species future trajectory incidence. We generated 20 ChHV5 genomes, from three species, better viral variant diversity gene evolution oncogenic virus. revealed previously underappreciated genetic within virus (with an average 2035 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 1.54% genome) identified genes under strongest evolutionary pressure. Furthermore, we investigated phylogeny at both genome level, confirming propensity be interspecific, with related variants able infect multiple Finally, unexpected intra-host diversity, up 0.15% varying between genomes isolated different tumours concurrently arising same individual. These findings offer important insights into biology provide genomic resources for