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Our research laboratory within the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Medicine and Research Program focuses on investigating the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and ecology of diseases of marine wildlife.

Current Projects

• Evaluating stranded bottlenose dolphins for herpesvirus and Brucella spp. infections using molecular diagnostics
• Identification and development of bioindicators of cardiomyopathy in pygmy and dwarf sperm whales
• Investigating transmission routes and pathophysiology of chelonid herpesvirus 5 in Florida green turtles
• Evaluating the effects of anthropogenic endocrine disruptors on leatherback sea turtle immune function and reproductive success
• Investigating prevalence of subclinical chelonid herpesvirus 5 carriers in Florida and North Carolina sea turtles
• Evaluating the relationship between chelonid herpesvirus 5 variant, fibropapilloma tumor morphology, and host species
• Developing predictive indices for rehabilitating turtles with fibropapillomatosis

This research is supported by funding from: Protect Wild Dolphins, Protect Florida Whales and Save Our Seas specialty license plates (granted through the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation), the Florida Sea Turtle license plate, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Wild Animal Health Fund and the North Carolina Aquarium Society.

Marine Wildlife Veterinary Medicine & Research

Journal Articles, Peer-Reviewed Publications

36. Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Hay C, Marks W, Bennett BO, Gribble MO, Noke W, Stolen M, Jablonski T, Gordon N, George C, Jiang M, Pegg N, Brown H, Burton S. Trace element bioaccumulation, tissue distribution, and elimination in odontocetes stranded in Florida and Georgia, USA over a 15-year period (2007–2021).ÌýÌý In prep Ìý.
35. Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Brenner D, Norton TM. 2023. Retrospective biomedical evaluation of free-ranging ring-tailed lemurs (Ìý Lemur catta Ìý) on St. Catherines Island, Georgia, USA.ÌýÌý Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine Ìý,ÌýÌý In revision.
34. Ìý ÌýAoki D, Perrault JR, Hoffman SL, Guertin JR,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Stacy BA, Lowry D. 2023. Forensic determination of shark species as predators and scavengers of sea turtles in Florida and Alabama.ÌýÌý Marine Ecology Progress Series Ìý, 703: 145–159.Ìý
33. Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Perrault JR. 2022. Noninvasive biological sampling of free-ranging wildlife. EBSCO Pathways to Research, Sustainability Section.ÌýÌýÌý Ìý.
32. Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Stacy NI, Morgan AN, Coppenrath CM, Manire CA, Herbst LH, Perrault JR. 2022. Morphologic and physiologic characteristics of green sea turtle (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý) hatchlings in southeastern Florida, USA.ÌýÌý Journal of Comparative Physiology B Ìý, 192: 751–764Ìý .Ìý doi: 10.1007/s00360-022-01450-9
31. Ìý ÌýPerrault JR,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Morgan AS, Burns LK, Stacy NI. 2022. Morphometrics and blood analytes of leatherback sea turtle hatchlings (Ìý Dermochelys coriacea Ìý) from Florida: reference intervals, temporal trends with clutch deposition date, and body size correlations.ÌýÌý Journal of Comparative Physiology B Ìý, 192: 313–324.ÌýÌý doi: 10.1007/s00360-021-01422-5
30.Ìý Perrault JR, Lasala JA, Manire CA, Coppenrath CM,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Blew A, Stacy NI. 2022. Non-pigmented versus pigmented: health variables and genetics of albino green turtle (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý) hatchlings compared to normally pigmented hatchlings from the same clutch.ÌýÌý Journal of Wildlife Diseases, ÌýÌý58(1): 15–29.ÌýÌý doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-21-00031
29.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Stacy BA, Whitmore L, Perrault JR, Walker JS, Shaver D, Rantonen E, Harms CA, Norton TM, Innis C, Duffy D. 2021. Fibropapillomatosis and chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 in Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Ìý Lepidochelys kempii Ìý).ÌýÌý Animals Ìý, 11: 3076.ÌýÌý *Cover Article* Ìý doi: 10.3390/ani11113076
28.Ìý Ataman A, Gainsbury AM, Manire CA, Hoffman SL,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Hirsch SE, Polyak MMR, Cassill DL, Aoki DM, Fraser KM, Klingshirn S, Stoll JA, Perrault JR. 2021. Evaluating prevalence of external injuries on nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Ìý Caretta caretta Ìý) in southeastern Florida USA.ÌýÌý Endangered Species Research,Ìý 46: 137–146.ÌýÌý doi: 10.3354/esr01149Ìý
27.Ìý Whitmore L, Yetsko K, Farrell JA,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Daniel W, Shaver DJ, Frandsen HR, Walker JS, Crowder W, Bovery C, Ramia DR, Burkhalter B, Ryan E, Duffy DJ. 2021. Evolutionary comparisons of chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) genomes from fibropapillomatosis-afflicted green (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý), olive ridley (Ìý Lepidochelys olivacea Ìý) and Kemp’s ridley (Ìý Lepidochelys kempii Ìý) sea turtles.ÌýÌý Animals Ìý, 11: 2489.ÌýÌý doi: 10.3390/ani11092489
26.Ìý James A,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Charles K, Edwards J, Gregory CR, Cheetham S, Butler BP, Marancik DP. 2021. Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 prevalence and first confirmed case of sea turtle fibropapillomatosis in Grenada, West Indies.ÌýÌý Animals Ìý, 11(6): 1490.ÌýÌý doi: 10.3390/ani11061490Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý
25.Ìý Molter CM, Norton TM, Nelson S, Hoopes L, Kaylor M, Hupp A, Thomas R, Kemler E, Arendt AD, Koutsos EA,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý. 2021. Health and nutrition of loggerhead sea turtles (Ìý Caretta caretta Ìý) in the southeastern United States.ÌýÌý Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition,Ìý 00: 1–15Ìý . Ìý doi: 10.1111/jpn.13575
24.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Rafferty K, Xavier C, Stacy NI, Moore J, Hirsch SE, Clark S, Manire CA, Perrault JR. 2021. Comprehensive health assessment and blood analyte reference intervals of gopher tortoises (Ìý Gopherus polyphemus Ìý) in southeastern Florida, USA.ÌýÌý Conservation Physiology,Ìý 9(1): conphys/coab015Ìý .Ìý doi: 10.1093/conphys/coab015
23.Ìý Perrault JR, Levin M, Mott CR, Bovery CM, Bresette MJ, Chabot RM, Gregory CR, Guertin JR, Hirsch SE, Ritchie BW, Weege ST, Welsh RC, Witherington BE,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý. 2021. Insights on immune function in free-ranging green sea turtles (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý) with and without fibropapillomatosis.ÌýÌý Animals Ìý, 11(3): 861.ÌýÌý doi: 10.3390/ani11030861
22.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Norton TM, Louis EE, Junge RE. 2021. Biomedical evaluation of the golden-crowned sifaka (Ìý Propithecus tattersalli Ìý) in Daraina, Madagascar.ÌýÌý Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine Ìý, 52(2): 726–731Ìý .Ìý doi: 10.1638/2020-0087
21.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Serrano ME, Cartzendafner J, Morgan A, Ritchie BW, Gregory CR, Perrault JR, Christiansen EF, Harms CA. 2020. Molecular assessment of chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 infection in tumor-free green (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý) and loggerhead (Ìý Caretta caretta Ìý) sea turtles in North Carolina, USA, 2015–2019.ÌýÌý Animals,Ìý 10(11): 1964.ÌýÌý doi: 10.3390/ani10111964
20.Ìý Seguel M, George RC, Maboni G, Sanchez S,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Wirth E, McFee W, Gottdenker NL. 2020. Pathologic findings and causes of death in bottlenose dolphinsÌýÌý Tursiops truncatus ÌýÌýstranded along the Georgia coast, USA (2007–2013).ÌýÌý Diseases of Aquatic Organisms Ìý, 141: 25–38.ÌýÌý doi: 10.3354/dao03509
19.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Lo CF, Ritchie B, Harms CA, Rotstein DS, Han S, Hassan SM, Lehner SM, Buchweitz JP, Thayer VG, Sullivan JM, Christiansen EF, Perrault JR. 2020. Anthropogenic contaminants and pathologic trends in stranded cetaceans in the southeastern United States, 2012–2018.ÌýÌý Frontiers in Marine Science Ìý, 7: 630Ìý .Ìý doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00630
18.Ìý Marks W, Burton S, Stratton E, Zolman E, Biedenbach G,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý. 2020. A case study of monofilament line entanglement in a bottlenose dolphin (Ìý Tursiops truncatus Ìý): entanglement, disentanglement, and death.ÌýÌý BMC Veterinary Research,Ìý 16: 223.ÌýÌý doi:10.1186/s12917-020-02436-x
17.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Chabot R, Stacy NI, Schenk A, Valverde RA, Stewart S, Coppenrath C, Manire CA, Herbst LH, Gregory CR, Ritchie BW, Perrault JR. 2020. Comprehensive health assessment of adult female green turtles (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý) nesting in southeastern Florida.ÌýÌý Endangered Species Research ÌýÌý42: 21–35Ìý .Ìý doi: 10.3354/esr01036
16.Ìý Perrault JR, Perkins CR, Ajemian MJ, Mott CR, Bresette MJ,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý. 2020. Harmful algal and cyanobacterial toxins in foraging green sea turtles (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý) in Florida’s Big Bend.ÌýÌý Toxicon: XÌý 5: 100020.ÌýÌý doi: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2019.100020
15.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Perrault JR, Zirklebach B, Pescatore J, Riley R, Stadler M, Zachariah TT, Norton TM. 2019. Tumor re-growth, case outcome, and tumor scoring systems in rehabilitated green turtles with fibropapillomatosis.ÌýÌý Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ÌýÌý137(2): 101–108.ÌýÌý doi: 10.3354/dao03426
14.Ìý Moncada F, Coppenrath CM, Hirsch S, Nodarse G,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Reeves AM, Perrault JR. 2019. Nesting green turtle tagged in Cuba, recaptured in Florida.ÌýÌý Marine Turtle NewsletterÌý 156: 1–2.Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý
13. Ìý ÌýPerrault JR, Lehner AF, Buchweitz JP,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý. 2019. Evidence of accumulation and elimination of inorganic contaminants from the lachrymal glands of leatherback sea turtles (Ìý Dermochelys Ìý coriacea Ìý).ÌýÌý ChemosphereÌý 217: 59–67.ÌýÌý doi: Ìý 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.10.206 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý
12.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Hahn M, Leach K, Murphy H, Lock B, Rivera S. 2017. Neoplasia in snakes at Zoo Atlanta during 1992–2012.ÌýÌý Journal of Zoo and Wildlife MedicineÌý 48(2): 521–524.ÌýÌý doi:Ìý 10.1638/2016-0101R1.1
11.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Norton TM, Ritchie B, Whitfield J, Gottdenker NL. 2017. Potential non-cutaneous sites of chelonid herpesvirus 5 persistence and shedding in green sea turtles (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý).ÌýÌý Journal of Aquatic Animal Health Ìý, 29(3): 136–142Ìý . Ìý doi: 10.1080/08997659.2017.1321590 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý
10.Ìý Perrault JR,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Miller DL. 2016. Packed cell volume is a cost-effective means for detecting fasting during reproduction in endangered marine turtles.ÌýÌý Marine Biology Ìý, 163: 232.
9. Ìý Page-Karjian Ìý A Ìý, Norton TM, Ritchie B, Brown CC, Mancia C, Jackwood M, Gottdenker NL. 2015. Quantifying chelonid herpesvirus 5 in symptomatic and asymptomatic rehabilitating green turtles (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý).ÌýÌý Endangered Species Research Ìý, 28: 135–146Ìý . Ìý doi: 10.3354/esr00687
8.Ìý Page-Karjian A,Ìý Norton TM, Harms CA, Mader DR, Herbst LH, Gottdenker NL. 2015. Case descriptions of fibropapillomatosis in rehabilitating loggerhead sea turtles (Ìý Caretta caretta Ìý) in the Southeastern United States.ÌýÌý Diseases of Aquatic Organisms Ìý, 115(3): 185–191Ìý .Ìý Ìý doi: 10.3354/dao02878
7.Ìý Page-Karjian A,Ìý Rivera S, Torres F, Diez CE, Moore D, Van Dam R, Brown CC. 2015. Baseline blood values in free-ranging green sea turtles (Ìý Chelonia mydas Ìý) in Puerto Rico.ÌýÌý Comparative Clinical Pathology Ìý, 24: 567–573.
6. Ìý Page-Karjian A,Ìý Norton TM, Krimer PM, Groner M, Nelson SE, Gottdenker NL. 2014. Factors affecting survivorship in rehabilitating sea turtles with fibropapillomatosis.ÌýÌý Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine Ìý, 45(3): 507–519.ÌýÌý doi: 10.1638/2013-0132R1.1
5.Ìý Perrault JR, Wyneken J,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Merrill A, Miller DL. 2014. Seasonal trends in nesting leatherback turtle (Ìý Dermochelys coriacea Ìý) serum proteins further verify capital breeding hypothesis.ÌýÌý Conservation PhysiologyÌý 2(1): cot035.ÌýÌý doi: 10.1093/conphys/cou002
4.Ìý Garcia-Vedrenne AE, Groner M,ÌýÌý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Siegmund G-F, Singhal S, Roberts S. 2013. Development of genomic resources for a thraustochytrid pathogen and investigation of temperature influences on gene expression.ÌýÌý PLoS ONE ÌýÌý8(9): e74196.ÌýÌý doi:Ìý 10.1371/journal.pone.0074196 ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
3.Ìý Page-Karjian A Ìý, Torres F, Zhang J, Rivera S, Diez C, Moore PA, Moore D, Brown C. 2012. Presence of CFPHV in tumored and non-tumored green turtles, as detected by PCR, in endemic and non-endemic aggregations, Puerto Rico.ÌýÌý SpringerPlus, ÌýÌý1:35–50.ÌýÌý doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-1-35 ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
2.Ìý Page-Karjian A,Ìý Knowles S, Camus A, Howerth E. 2012. Pulmonary mycobacteriosis in an emerald tree boa.ÌýÌý Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association, ÌýÌý241(9): 1159–1161Ìý .Ìý Ìý doi: 10.2460/javma.241.9.1159
1.Ìý Page A.Ìý 2010. Bacterial Granulomatous Encephalitis in a Short-Beaked Common Dolphin (Ìý Delphinus delphis Ìý).ÌýÌý Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Case Reports in Marine Mammal Pathology Ìý, 1(2): 1–5.Ìý

Book Chapters

Page-Karjian A Ìý, Perrault JR. 2021. Sea Turtle Health Assessments: Maximizing Turtle Encounters to Better Understand Health. In: Nahill B (ed) Sea Turtle Research and Conservation: Lessons from Working in the Field. Elsevier, Academic Press, St. Louis, Missouri. pp. 31–44. Ìý
Page-Karjian A Ìý. 2018. Fibropapillomatosis in marine turtles. In: Miller E, Calle P, Lamberski N (eds) Fowler’s Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 9Ìý ^th ÌýÌýEdition. Elsevier, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri. Chapter 57.
Page-Karjian A Ìý, Herbst LH. 2017. Viruses. In: Manire CA, Norton TM, Stacy BA, Innis CJ, Harms CA (eds) Sea Turtle Health and Rehabilitation. J. Ross Publishing, Plantation, Florida. Chapter 30, pp. 730–785.

Other Contributions

Page-Karjian A Ìý. 2022. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Infectious Disease Manual. Fact Sheets on: Cyprinid herpesvirus 3. pp. 370–373.