An alpha-herpesvirus has recently been associated with green turtle fibropapilloma (FP). To further understand the etiological role of this newfound green turtle herpesvirus (GTHV) in the pathogenesis of FP, expression of GTHV polymerase (pol) gene was determined in tumors and normal-appearing nontumor tissues and organs from five green turtles suffering multiple fibropapillomas, using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).