Epidemiological Investigation of a Mortality Event in a Translocated Gopher Tortoise () Population in Northwest Florida.

Nokuse Plantation, a 22,055 ha private conservation preserve in northwest Florida, is a recipient site for gopher tortoises translocated from development sites in Florida. Since 2006, Nokuse has received over 5,000 tortoises from multiple development sites. During 2013-2015, 52 tortoises were found sick ( = 14) or dead ( = 38) in multiple soft-release enclosures in which tortoises consistently exhibited clinical signs, with additional sick ( = 5) and dead ( = 5) tortoises presenting similarly during 2016-2017.

Pathogen Surveillance and Detection of Ranavirus () in Translocated Gopher Tortoises ().

Emerging pathogens may pose additional threats to already vulnerable populations of chelonians, such as gopher tortoises (). In response to a mortality event on a translocation site in northwest Florida, US during 2013-15, 13 gopher tortoises were necropsied and their tissues were screened for 12 pathogens, including , , and -like ranavirus (FV3). The DNA of FV3 was detected via quantitative PCR in the gastrointestinal tract of three tortoises.

The wild world of Guinea Worms: A review of the genus in wildlife.

Nematodes are an extremely diverse and speciose group of parasites. Adult dracunculoid nematodes (Superfamily Dracunculoidea) occur in the tissues and serous cavities of mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and birds. Of the dracunculid group, perhaps best known is , the human Guinea Worm.