Davidson Alexis, Kendall Michelle W, Ryan Maura, Ladez Kayla, Bradley Samantha, Lionetto Carley, Graser William, Glowacki Gary, Thompson Daniel, King Richard B, Golba Callie K, Moorhead Kaitlin, Adamovicz Laura, Allender Matthew C
Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Forest Preserve District of Kane County, 1996 S. Kirk Rd., Geneva, Illinois 60134, USA.
J Wildl Dis. 2023 Dec 20;61(1):30-45. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-23-00194.
Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) are a species of conservation concern throughout their natural range. Headstarting is a common chelonian conservation technique in which neonates are reared in managed-care settings before release, but health assessments are rarely incorporated. From 2020 to 2021 we assessed headstarted turtle health pre-release and 1 mo, 1 yr, and 2 yr after release using physical examination, hematology, plasma biochemistry, protein electrophoresis, and pathogen detection in three Illinois counties. Results were compared to wild-reared juveniles in the same habitats. Overall, 767 assessments from 561 turtles were included. Wild-reared and 2 yr post-release headstarts had higher incidence of hemoparasites, asymmetrical nares, and increased creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase activities (P<0.05) compared to all other groups. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and heterophil:lymphocyte ratio were greater, while total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were lower (P<0.05) in pre-release headstarts compared to wild-reared juveniles. Total solids, albumin, and beta globulins were higher, while the calcium:phosphorous ratio was lower (P<0.05) in pre-release headstarts and wild-reared juveniles vs. other groups. Bile acid levels were highest in pre-release headstarts (P<0.05). Body condition and gamma globulins increased following release, while alpha globulins and the albumin:globulin ratio decreased following release (P<0.05). Two pre-release and one post-release headstart tested positive for Emydomyces testavorans, one post-release headstart was positive for Mycoplasmopsis sp., and nine post-release turtles were positive for adenoviruses. Overall, rearing conditions have a profound and temporally dynamic impact on Blanding's health assessment parameters. Future studies should evaluate long-term impacts on morbidity and mortality to support positive health status and conservation outcomes.
布兰德氏龟（Emydoidea blandingii）在其整个自然分布范围内都是受保护关注的物种。提前育幼是一种常见的龟类保护技术，即幼龟在放归前在管理照料环境中饲养，但很少进行健康评估。在2020年至2021年期间，我们在伊利诺伊州的三个县，通过体格检查、血液学、血浆生物化学、蛋白质电泳和病原体检测，对提前育幼的龟在放归前以及放归后1个月、1年和2年的健康状况进行了评估。将结果与同一栖息地野生饲养的幼龟进行了比较。总体而言，纳入了来自561只龟的767次评估。与所有其他组相比，野生饲养的龟以及放归后2年的提前育幼龟血寄生虫、鼻孔不对称以及肌酸激酶和天冬氨酸转氨酶活性增加的发生率更高（P<0.05）。与野生饲养的幼龟相比，放归前提前育幼龟的红细胞沉降率和嗜异性粒细胞：淋巴细胞比率更高，而白细胞总数和淋巴细胞计数更低（P<0.05）。与其他组相比，放归前提前育幼龟和野生饲养的幼龟的总固体、白蛋白和β球蛋白更高，而钙：磷比率更低（P<0.05）。放归前提前育幼龟的胆汁酸水平最高（P<0.05）。放归后身体状况和γ球蛋白增加，而α球蛋白和白蛋白：球蛋白比率放归后下降（P<0.05）。两只放归前和一只放归后的提前育幼龟检测到龟壳隐球菌呈阳性，一只放归后的提前育幼龟支原体属呈阳性，九只放归后的龟腺病毒呈阳性。总体而言，饲养条件对布兰德氏龟的健康评估参数有深远且随时间变化的影响。未来的研究应评估对发病率和死亡率的长期影响，以支持良好的健康状况和保护成果。
