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Detection of pathogens in Boidae and Pythonidae with and without respiratory disease
V Schmidt1, R E Marschang, M D Abbas
1Clinic for Birds and Reptiles, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 17, Leipzig D-04103, Germany. vschmidt@vogelklinik.uni-leipzig.de
The Veterinary Record
|January 17, 2013
Summary
Respiratory diseases in captive boid snakes are linked to poor husbandry. Bacterial pathogens like Salmonella were common in pneumonia cases, with Ferlavirus found in pythons.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Herpetology
- Pathogen Research
Background:
- Respiratory diseases are prevalent in captive boid snakes, yet their causes remain poorly understood.
- This study addresses the lack of etiological information regarding respiratory conditions in Boidae and Pythonidae families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of lung-associated pathogens in boid snakes exhibiting respiratory signs or pneumonia.
- To correlate husbandry conditions with the occurrence of respiratory diseases in these reptiles.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 80 boid snakes (Boidae and Pythonidae) from diverse collections.
- Clinical examination, detailed husbandry assessment via questionnaire, and tracheal wash sampling for bacteriological and virological analysis.
- Post-mortem pathological examination of all snakes.
Main Results:
- Pythons showed higher incidence of respiratory signs and pneumonia compared to boas.
- Poor husbandry conditions were identified as a significant factor in disease development.
- Salmonella species were the most frequently isolated bacteria from snakes with pneumonia; Ferlavirus RNA was detected exclusively in pythons.
Conclusions:
- Tracheal wash sampling is a valuable diagnostic method for identifying viral and bacterial pathogens in snakes with respiratory symptoms.
- Bacterial and viral pathogens, alongside poor husbandry, play critical roles in the aetiology of respiratory diseases in captive boid snakes.
