Respiratory Disease

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Respiratory disease is common in box turtles.  Epidemics may

occur in populations of wild box turtles, characterized by runny

noses and pneumonia.  It may be bacterial or viral and can be

highly contagious.  The Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata

ornata) seems to be especially sensitive to respiratory disease

in captivity, and the respiratory signs seem to be particularly

devastating in this species.