KAHN, P.F.*; MENDON�A, M.T.; Auburn University; Auburn University: Effects of Gopher Tortoise Relocation on the Development and Progression of Upper Respiratory Tract Disease

Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) is a bacterial disease caused by Mycoplasma agassizii that affects both gopher tortoises and desert tortoises. Conservationists debate the degree to which URTD impacts tortoises� health because although population declines have been attributed to this disease, there have been no long term studies monitoring its development and progression. A further complication is that relocation, a common conservation practice used with these tortoise species, may increase stress levels and lower immunocompetence, thereby affecting URTD status. In 2003, the United States Army proposed to relocate gopher tortoises at Ft. Benning, Georgia to protect them from disturbance, including intensive training and construction that resulted in the destruction of habitat. During summer 2003 and spring 2004, we relocated these tortoises (n=51 and n=57, respectively) and monitored them for the presence of antibodies to M. agassizii using an ELISA test. We followed the development and progression of URTD, as well as its related symptoms, prior to relocation (Day 0) during 2003 and 2004, and on Day 30 post relocation during 2004. We also measured corticosterone levels and immune responsiveness at those time points. We found that some tortoises changed URTD antibody status (both negative to positive and positive to negative) over the course of the 2 seasons. We also found that URTD antibody positive tortoises changed from symptomatic to asymptomatic status and vice versa after relocation. Analyses are currently being conducted to determine if correlations exist among URTD status, the presence of URTD-related symptoms, season of relocation, and habitat quality of the relocation site.