Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 46(1): 000–000, 2015 Copyright 2015 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF FREE-LIVING EASTERN BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA) IN AND AROUND THE MARYLAND ZOO IN BALTIMORE 1996–2011 Laura Adamovicz, D.V.M., Ellen Bronson, D.V.M., Dipl. A.C.Z.M., Kevin Barrett, B.S., and Sharon L. Deem, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. A.C.Z.M. Abstract: Health ?1 data for free-living eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore were analyzed. One hundred and eighteen turtles were captured on or near zoo grounds over the course of 15 yr (1996–2011), with recapture of many individuals leading to 208 total evaluations. Of the 118 individuals, 61 were male, 50 were female, and 7 were of undetermined sex. Of the 208 captures, 188 were healthy, and 20 were sick or injured. Complete health evaluations were performed on 30 turtles with physical examination records, complete blood counts (CBCs), and plasma biochemistry profiles. Six animals were sampled more than once, yielding 40 total samples for complete health evaluations of these 30 individuals. The 40 samples were divided into healthy (N ¼ 29) and sick (N ¼ 11) groups based on clinical findings on physical examination. Samples from healthy animals were further divided into male (N ¼ 17) and female (N ¼ 12) groups. CBC and biochemistry profile parameters were compared between sick and healthy groups and between healthy males and females. Sick turtles had lower albumin, globulin, total protein (TP), calcium, phosphorous, sodium, and potassium than healthy animals. Sick turtles also had higher heterophil to lymphocyte ratios. Healthy female turtles had higher leukocyte count, eosinophil count, total solids, TP, globulin, cholesterol, calcium, and phosphorous than healthy males. Banked plasma from all 40 samples was tested for antibodies to Mycoplasma agassizii and Mycoplasma testudineum via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. One sample from a clinically healthy female was antibody positive for M. agassizii; none were positive for M. testudineum. This study provides descriptive health data for eastern box turtles and CBC and biochemistry profile information for T. carolina carolina at and near the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. It also reports low serologic evidence of exposure to mycoplasmosis. Key words: Complete blood count, eastern box turtle, health survey, mycoplasmosis, plasma biochemistry, Terrapene carolina carolina. INTRODUCTION The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is a small chelonian that is native to much of the eastern United States. Its numbers are dwindling due to habitat fragmentation, collection for the pet trade, and road mortality; however, populations persist in urban areas. 5,27 Druid Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, is a 745-acre urban park with several fragmented areas providing variations of typical box turtle habitat, including deciduous forests, smaller areas of evergreen and mixed forests, and shrub and scrub lands. 16,29,33 The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is situated within Druid Hill Park and maintains a population of eastern box turtles in a naturalistic exhibit as part of their Maryland Wilderness section. Additionally, many free-living eastern box turtles live on and around the zoo grounds. To understand potential disease threats to the zoo’s box turtle population, the Maryland Zoo staff has collected health data on free-living box turtles found on and near zoo grounds since 1996. These data provide a longitudinal perspective on the health and disease status of a population of eastern box turtles over the course of many years. The objectives of this study were to provide descriptive health data, complete blood counts (CBCs), plasma biochemistry profile concentra- tions and to determine exposure to Mycoplasma spp. in the free-living eastern box turtle popula- tion at the Maryland Zoo. Additionally, CBC and plasma biochemistry profiles were compared between healthy and sick turtles and between healthy male and female turtles. MATERIALS AND METHODS Field work was conducted from spring 1996 to winter 2011 as part of an ongoing demographic From North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1052 William Moore Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA (Adamovicz); the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Drive Baltimore, Maryland 21217, USA (Bronson, Barrett); and the Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, One Government Drive, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110, USA (Deem). Correspondence should be directed to Dr. Bronson (ellen.bronson@marylandzoo.org). //titan/production/z/zamd/live_jobs/zamd-46-01/zamd-46-01-08/layouts/zamd-46-01-08.3d  3 December 2014  6:08 pm  Allen Press, Inc. Page 1 Customer: 2014-0066R 1