title: Clinical Mycoplasma sp. Infections in Free-living Three-toed Box Turtles ( Terrapene carolina triunguis) in Missouri, USA.
abstract: Mycoplasma species, which can cause upper respiratory tract disease (URTD), are significant pathogens of birds, mammals, fish, and reptiles. Mycoplasmosis is of high concern for chelonian conservation, with the most well-documented cases in gopher and desert tortoises. Mycoplasma sp. infections have been reported in captive and free-living box turtles ( Terrapene spp.). We documented URTD associated with Mycoplasma sp. in two free-living, three-toed box turtles ( Terrapene carolina triunguis) in Missouri, US. Both turtles were Mycoplasma sp. positive by PCR and had URTD-like clinical signs, including nasal and ocular discharge, palpebral edema, lethargy, and weight loss, during a 6-8-wk period between June and September 2014.
authors.affiliation: 1 Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, One Government Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA;
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: 2 WildCare Institute, Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA;|3 Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Am Obstberg 1, D-78315, Radolfzell, Germany;|4 Whitney Harris World Ecology Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, B216 Benton Hall, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63121, USA;|5 Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1137, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA;
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: 6 College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA;
authors.forename: James F X
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wellehan
authors.affiliation: 6 College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA;
authors.forename: April L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Childress
authors.affiliation: 1 Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, One Government Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA;|4 Whitney Harris World Ecology Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, B216 Benton Hall, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63121, USA;
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Deem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014426:Turtles / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Box turtle; Mycoplasma sp.; Terrapene carolina triunguis; chelonian conservation