Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
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.
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.
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