Viruses in Captive Boids and Pythonids

A recently published study from Germany examined 100 apparently healthy booid snakes for the presence of paramyxoviruses (PMVs), and tested blood samples for antibodies against PMVs, adenoviruses and reovirus and for inclusion bodies that would indicate the presence of inclusion body disease (IBD). Nine snakes tested positive for PMVs and six snakes tested positive for IBD antibodies. Antibodies against PMV were found in one snake and two snakes had antibodies against an adenovirus.The blood samples were obtained from 14 private and zoo collections in Germany and taken only from snakes that showed no signs of disease. Snake owners answered detailed questionnaires about the snakes origins, diet, and husbandry. The authors suggest that the risk of spreading an infection in a collection is considerably greater that previously thought from snakes that appear healthy. The full article can be found at: http://www.veterinaer-akademie.de/pdf/en/publications/2010_veterinary_record_03_snakes.pdf

Citation: Pees, M. et al. 2010. Prevalence of viral infections in captive collections of boid snakes in Germany. Veterinary Record 166:422-425.

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