Boas and BP's and what is fatal.

[Vomitore]

Ok, so I really want to get a RTB one of these days. And I know that boa's have a bacteria (I think I got that right) that can be fatal to BP's. I've been confused on whether its just certain boas or all boas? There has also been talk about certain tests but I've heard that the test can only be done once the boa has died. So could someone shed some light on this subject? I think this would be a good informative thread for people who own one or the other, and want to own both species.

[Dread]

What you are thinking of is IBD, Inclusion Body Disease... you can get more information with google and http://www.anapsid.org/ibd.html

It is a virus, and usually non-fatal to boas who can carry the disease and wipe out entire collections of pythons without the boas displaying any symptoms themselves. The 'cheapest' and most horrific test is to keep a ball python in a mite-infested room with a suspected boa... if it dies in 4 months you have IBD. I'm not sure if there is another publically available test for IBD... though coming from a life sciences background I know you'd need tissue with a high viral load and access to a centrifuge to test for it in the lab.

You might find some 'business' threads where someone bashes big breeders for not putting down research money to develop a real test for IBD... but it would almost be easier to find a cure, and that would take considerable research monies. Best bet now is to house boas and pythons completely separately in your home/facility, handle the pythons first, observe other quarantine measures, buy from reputable dealers, and keep your pythons safe.

[SPJ]

usually non-fatal to boas

It is USUALLY fatal to boas as well.
It is extremely contagious and can wipe out an entire collection. Ask BW Smith what happened to his collection from receiving one boa with IBD.

The testing issue is because there are certain sellers who knowlingly had IBD in their collection, sold infected animals, and NEVER informed the buyers or stopped selling exposed animals.

[joepythons]

It is USUALLY fatal to boas as well.
It is extremely contagious and can wipe out an entire collection. Ask BW Smith what happened to his collection from receiving one boa with IBD.

The testing issue is because there are certain sellers who knowlingly had IBD in their collection, sold infected animals, and NEVER informed the buyers or stopped selling exposed animals.

Yea thier is still one person trying to sell his IBD infected snakes at this time on Kingsnake .I think if you knowingly sell IBD infected snakes you should be punished exactly like someone passing on AIDS .

[lillyorchid]

IBD is fatal. It will kill a BP quicker then it will kill a boa. There is NO CURE for it and you can't rule out that it is IBD till your animal has died and they do test on it then. When getting a boa.... I can't stress enough that you get it from a great, super well known breeder who has been around for some years. Quarantine, quarantine, quarantine!!! No little quarantine time either. I know some people who get boa's and have them quarantined for at least 6 to a year months and not even at their own house / or where they keep their collection of snakes at.

http://www.pkreptiles.com/informatio...ticles/ibd.asp
http://www.pkreptiles.com/informatio...dcasestudy.asp
http://www.pkreptiles.com/informatio...s/ibdvirus.asp


Read and learn up on IBD then do your search for a breeder for some time.
Just don't look on kingsnake, see a boa you like then buy it without doing any research about that breeder and his/her animals.


I know someone on where had a IBD scare... last year. I forget who it was but I know she took her animals to the vet and such. She could probably tell you a lot more of how scary it is!

I found the post:
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...&highlight=IBD

[Vomitore]

Thanks guys

[joepythons]

Yea thier is still one person trying to sell his IBD infected snakes at this time on Kingsnake .I think if you knowingly sell IBD infected snakes you should be punished exactly like someone passing on AIDS .

Just incase someone wonders whom i am talking about here please read this post on fauna(link provided). http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...addy+Wholesale