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Occurrence of Upper Respiratory Tract Disease and Associated Hematology of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in South Florida

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Date Issued:
2015
Summary:
Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) is an extremely infectious illness whose effect on Gopher tortoise populations is not fully understood and in need of more extensive research. The occurrence of URTD in the Gopher tortoise population in the Abacoa Greenway has been thoroughly documented over the past 11 years. In the current study, blood samples were collected from 37 individuals in this location, 22 of which were from previously tested individuals. Twenty-four of these individuals were also sampled for blood chemistry testing. The test results for the 22 previously tested tortoises were compared to past results. Results of this study show that some individuals continue to test positive over several years, while others that have previously tested positive now show lower levels of antibodies, suggesting the ability to recover from the disease. Comments were also made on the associated hematology and blood chemistry results for the 24 tortoises sampled.
Title: Occurrence of Upper Respiratory Tract Disease and Associated Hematology of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) in South Florida.
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Name(s): Villanueva, Kayla
Moore, Jon
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Thesis
Date Created: Spring 2015
Date Issued: 2015
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: pdf
Extent: 48 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) is an extremely infectious illness whose effect on Gopher tortoise populations is not fully understood and in need of more extensive research. The occurrence of URTD in the Gopher tortoise population in the Abacoa Greenway has been thoroughly documented over the past 11 years. In the current study, blood samples were collected from 37 individuals in this location, 22 of which were from previously tested individuals. Twenty-four of these individuals were also sampled for blood chemistry testing. The test results for the 22 previously tested tortoises were compared to past results. Results of this study show that some individuals continue to test positive over several years, while others that have previously tested positive now show lower levels of antibodies, suggesting the ability to recover from the disease. Comments were also made on the associated hematology and blood chemistry results for the 24 tortoises sampled.
Identifier: FA00003663 (IID)
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2016.
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003663
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Host Institution: FAU

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