[Successful treatment of a necrotizing, multi-resistant bacterial pyoderma in a python with cold plasma therapy]

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Herpetology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Ball pythons can develop severe skin infections following injuries.
• Bacterial pyoderma and necrotizing dermatitis pose significant treatment challenges, especially with multi-resistant strains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAPP) therapy in treating a ball python with severe bacterial pyoderma and necrotizing dermatitis.
• To assess CAPP therapy as a potential treatment for multi-resistant bacterial skin infections in snakes.

Main Methods:

• A 4-year-old ball python with extensive skin lesions and signs of septicemia was treated.
• Initial treatment with lincomycin and marbofloxacin showed limited success.
• Six sessions of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAPP) therapy were administered over 4 weeks.

Main Results:

• CAPP therapy led to rapid resolution of inflammatory symptoms within one week.
• Complete re-epithelialization of skin wounds occurred within a few weeks.
• The snake exhibited normal shedding for the following year, indicating successful long-term recovery.

Conclusions:

• Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAPP) therapy presents a viable and effective treatment option for bacterial pyoderma and necrotizing dermatitis in snakes.
• CAPP therapy shows promise for managing infections caused by multi-resistant bacteria in reptiles.