title: A Mycoplasma species of Emydidae turtles in the northeastern USA.
abstract: Mycoplasma infections can cause significant morbidity and mortality in captive and wild chelonians. As part of a health assessment of endangered bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) in the northeastern US, choanal and cloacal swabs from these and other sympatric species, including spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata), eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta), and common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) from 10 sampling sites in the states (US) of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, were tested by PCR for Mycoplasma. Of 108 turtles tested, 63 (58.3%) were PCR positive for Mycoplasma including 58 of 83 bog turtles (70%), three of three (100%) eastern box turtles, and two of 11 (18%) spotted turtles; all snapping turtles (n = 7) and wood turtles (n = 4) were negative. Sequence analysis of portions of the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region and the 16S ribosomal RNA gene revealed a single, unclassified species of Mycoplasma that has been previously reported in eastern box turtles, ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata), western pond turtles (Emys marmorata), and red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). We document a high incidence of Mycoplasma, in the absence of clinical disease, in wild emydid turtles. These findings, along with wide distribution of the identified Mycoplasma sp. across a broad geographic region, suggest this bacterium is likely a commensal inhabitant of bog turtles, and possibly other species of emydid turtles, in the northeastern US.
authors.affiliation: 1  Wildlife Conservation Society, Zoological Health Program, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York 10460, USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ossiboff
authors.forename: Bonnie L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Raphael
authors.forename: Alyssa D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ammazzalorso
authors.forename: Tracie A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Seimon
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niederriter
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Alisa L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McAloose
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics; D014426:Turtles / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S
keywords: Bog turtle; Clemmys guttata; Eastern box turtle; Emydidae; Glyptemys muhlenbergii; Mycoplasma; Terrapene carolina carolina; spotted turtle