DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2b89t
title: Data from: Descriptive epidemiology for turtles admitted to the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Turtle Rescue Team

description: The North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Turtle
 Rescue Team has been treating and releasing wild turtles since 1996 and
 has compiled a collection of almost 4,000 medical records, now available
 for consultation by researchers via the North Carolina State University
 Libraries Special Collections Research Center. Data available for each
 case include county where turtle was discovered, patient identification
 number, admission date, species, sex and reproductive status, physical
 examination findings, clinical diagnosis, last case-entry date, length of
 stay, and final disposition. Additional data in the records include a
 day-by-day description of treatment and husbandry performed for each
 turtle. This report summarizes 2,613 turtle cases examined between 1996
 and 2012 by the Turtle Rescue Team, including 12 native species of turtle
 from 63 North Carolina counties. The sex distribution of those of known
 sex were evenly distributed. The most common presenting condition was
 vehicular trauma while garden equipment and fish-equipment–related trauma,
 pet surrender, and other human-induced injury represented an additional
 154 cases. Animal attacks and trauma due to unknown causes were also
 represented. Other conditions diagnosed on presentation included
 infection, aural abscessation, nutritional disorder, neurologic disorder,
 buoyancy disorder, prolapse, and other. A small number of turtles were not
 diagnosed or were healthy. Ultimate disposition data were available for
 2,318 turtles, of which 1,227 were released to the wild. The
 epidemiological data presented here are similar to information collected
 in Illinois, Tennessee, and Virginia. Medical records from wildlife
 hospitals and primary care facilities represent an important opportunity
 to gain valuable insight into the epidemiology of human interaction with
 native wildlife species.
description: Turtle case records from
 1996-2012Table A1: Turtle case
 records from 1996-2012, North Carolina State University, College of
 Veterinary Medicine, Turtle Rescue Team, N=2,613. Description and summary
 of basic information available on TRT turtle cases from 1996-2012 in
 archival records held by the North Carolina State University Libraries
 Special Collections Research Center for research into morbidity and
 mortality of wild turtles. Excel spreadsheet with single tab of data in
 columns A-Q. Variables are case number, name of animal as assigned by TRT,
 beginning date of chart, ending date of chart, days observed, species,
 sex, gravidity, location, county, presenting problem, problem description,
 outcome, other file contents present (Misc File Contents), and staff
 notes.trtrecords1996.2012dryadsubmission.xlsNon-turtle case records from 1996-2012, N=54Table A2. Non-turtle case records from 1996-2012, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Mediine, Turtle Rescue Team, N=54 Description and summary of basic information available on TRT non-turtle cases from 1996-2012 in archival records held by the North Carolina State University Libraries Special Collections Research Center for research into morbidity and mortality of wild reptiles and amphibians. Excel spreadsheet with single tab of data in columns A-Q Variables are case number, name of animal as assigned by TRT, beginning date of chart, ending date of chart, days observed, species, sex, gravidity, location, county, presenting problem, problem description, outcome, other file contents present (Misc File Contents), and staff notes.trtrecords1996.2012nonturtlecases.xlsx