Marguerite M. Jackson

THE FREQUENCY OF SALMONELLA AND ARIZONA MICROORGANISMS IN ZOO TURTLES

A screening survey of turtles for the presence of cloacal Salmonella and Arizona microorganisms was made in nine major zoos and zoological gardens. Six Salmonella serotypes and one Arizona serotype were recovered from 14 species representing 5 turtle families. The apparent rate of infection was 12.1%.

The relationship between age, blood serum cholesterol level and aortic calcification in the turtle

1. 1. Determination by spectrophotometric methods of blood serum cholesterol level and aortic calcium in an age series of the Suwannee terrapin, Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis, yielded total cholesterol values ranging from 210 to 300 mg/100 ml serum, and calcium values ranging from 27 to 62 mg/100 g dry wt. aorta. 2. 2. There appears to be a definite increase in blood serum cholesterol level with increase in age (size), whereas there is no apparent correlation between the relative amount of aortic calcium and the size of the animal.

Aortic calcification, serum calcium, magnesium, sodium and cholesterol in Gopherus polyphemus

Abstract 1. 1. Determination by spectrophotometric methods of blood serum calcium, magnesium, sodium and cholesterol along with aortic calcium in an age series of the gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus , yielded mean values of 3.1, 2.3, 137 mM/1., respectively for the cations, 127.6 mg/100 cm 3 cholesterol and 116 mg calcium/100 g dry wt. tissue. 2. 2. No statistically significant correlations were found between animal size and any of the five parameters examined.

CRANIAL ASYMMETRY WITH MASSIVE INFECTION IN A BOX TURTLE

A captured box turtle, Terrapene carolina, was found to have a large swelling on the neck, the result of a massive, mixed bacterial infection of Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Proteus morganii, Proteus rettgeri, and a non-pigmented strain of Pseudomonas. A well-defined caseous mass between the superficial and deep cervical muscles was surrounded by purulent material. An eroded squamosal bone allowed purulent material to gain access to the pharynx. The skull was markedly asymmetrical, due primarily to left squamosal enlargement. Initial entry of the pathogens via pharyngeal trauma is suggested.

Blood serum cholesterol levels in two congeneric species of molluscivorous turtles

Abstract 1. 1. Analysis by spectrophotometric methods of the blood serum cholesterol levels of two mainly carnivorous, congeneric species of musk turtles, Sternotherus minor minor and Sternotherus odoratus , yielded mean total cholesterol values of 506 and 376 mg/100 ml serum respectively. 2. 2. The difference between the means of the two species is highly significant statistically and suggests a dietary basis. Differences between sexes within each species were insignificant.

REPRODUCTIVE TRACT ANOMALY IN A BOX TURTLE

A box turtle, Terrapene Carolina, was found to have 3 coelomic, extra-oviducal shelled eggs. Two of these were attached to the liver by overgrowth of its connective tissue, presumably in response to inflammation induced by the eggs. Yolk material from the third (unattached) egg yielded pure cultures of the bacterium, Micrococcus tetragenus. Cultures of albumen and yolk were sterile from one of the four shelled oviducal eggs present.

SERUM CHOLESTEROL VALUES IN THREE SPECIES OF TURTLES

Samples of 3 species of recently captured turtles from the southeastern U.S.A., the peninsula cooter, pond slider, and box turtle, were examined to determine base line values for blood serum cholesterel. Means with standard errors, ranges, and coefficients of variation of this blood parameter were calculated for each species.

Serum levels of urea and inorganic phosphorus in the loggerhead musk turtle, Sternotherus minor minor

1. 1. Determination by spectrophotometric methods of blood serum urea and inorganic phosphorus in wild adults of the loggerhead musk turtle, Sternotherus minor minor, yielded respective mean values of 34·4 and 1·4 mM/l. (males) and 19·7 and 2·4 (females). 2. 2. Statistically significant mean differences in urea (P<0·05) and inorganic phosphorus (P<0·01) were found between the sexes. The ovigerous condition of the females may account for the observed differences.