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Occurrence and demographics of upper respiratory tract disease in the Abacoa Greenway gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus)

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Date Issued:
2008
Summary:
Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) is a highly contagious illness, caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma agassazii. URTD has affected the gopher tortoise population in the Abacoa Greenway, and is believed to have a high mortality rate. In this study, 18 samples of tortoise blood were collected from this location. Fifteen of the 18 samples were collected from previously tested individuals. Comparisons between the previously tested tortoises were made. According to this study there is no documented mortality rate with URTD in Abacoa. Results show that four tortoises have continued to test positive for the antibodies for several years, suggesting a chronic state of the disease. Four other tortoises have gone from positive results to negative results indicating that their immune systems' production of antibodies has tapered off, suggesting the ability to recover from the disease.
Title: Occurrence and demographics of upper respiratory tract disease in the Abacoa Greenway gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).
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Name(s): Mendoza, Tatiana Alexandra.
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Thesis
Issuance: multipart monograph
Date Issued: 2008
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Physical Form: electronic
electronic resource
Extent: viii, 24 leaves : ill.
Language(s): English
Summary: Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) is a highly contagious illness, caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma agassazii. URTD has affected the gopher tortoise population in the Abacoa Greenway, and is believed to have a high mortality rate. In this study, 18 samples of tortoise blood were collected from this location. Fifteen of the 18 samples were collected from previously tested individuals. Comparisons between the previously tested tortoises were made. According to this study there is no documented mortality rate with URTD in Abacoa. Results show that four tortoises have continued to test positive for the antibodies for several years, suggesting a chronic state of the disease. Four other tortoises have gone from positive results to negative results indicating that their immune systems' production of antibodies has tapered off, suggesting the ability to recover from the disease.
Identifier: 287155138 (oclc), 77679 (digitool), FADT77679 (IID), fau:1499 (fedora)
Note(s): by Tatiana Alexandra Mendoza.
Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Honors College, 2008.
Bibliography: leaves 22-24.
Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, FL : 2008 Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Subject(s): Greenways -- Florida -- Jupiter -- Abacoa
Gopher tortoise -- Diseases
Mycoplasm diseases in animals
Wildlife management -- Florida
Wildlife conservation -- Florida
Held by: FBoU FAUER
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/77679
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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