Possible New Brutal Disease

I have no doubt that the labs running the tests on the diseased/dead retics were selected because they specialize in these tests.

I've read the estimates of the breeder's losses - a quarter of a million bucks in snakes on the low end, including several one-of-a-kind morphs. He wants answers and has the motivation and resources to pursue them.

Aubrey is also looking out for the community he loves and wants to protect.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I have no doubt that the labs running the tests on the diseased/dead retics were selected because they specialize in these tests.

I've read the estimates of the breeder's losses - a quarter of a million bucks in snakes on the low end, including several one-of-a-kind morphs. He wants answers and has the motivation and resources to pursue them.

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Specializing in testing is one thing. When one of my snakes died this past spring due to osteomyelitis a lab confirmed the pathology, but her remains were sent to a research center that is studying the disease. There are only a handful of people studying viruses in snakes in this country. Once Mr. Pruitt knows what is decimating his collection - what's next?

Well, working on a way to treat, and test against future outbreaks. Look no further than the snail's pace progress made against IBD and OPMV. You can go back and read about how people got decimated by viral outbreaks in their collections, and yet the Hobby made pathetic gestures towards funding research and most people could barely even figure out whether they were dealing with adenoviruses, ranaviruses, OPMV, etc.

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Originally Posted by reptileexperts

Aubrey is also looking out for the community he loves and wants to protect.

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That's awesome. I don't know Aubrey but I will do this - find out who is running the tests and who will be doing the work with regards to identifying and coming up with positive steps towards this disease. Once that is confirmed I will donate $100 to that researcher and I will post receipt of that payment here.

Is anyone else willing to do the same? Or are we going to continue to wring our hands like we have done with other ophidian viruses for the last 25 years?

So any updates? I looked at Aubrey's facebook page hoping to find some more info - no luck.

Any pathology updates? Any news on his collection?

Any news on steps being taken in the retic community to trace back the disease? Any steps being taken to see if this is species specific or if it poses a greater threat? Have the other keepers/breeders been identified or have they stepped forward?

Any idea who he's consulted with respect to the quote "From talking with several very influential people in this industry and quite a few specialists in reptile disease"......?

Knowledge is power. The more people that are informed the better. I applaud the OP for sharing this info outside of the retic community............but aside from the OP, no one seems to be sharing info about this........

While there have been a few small updates and some discussion about additional measures for preventing the spread of airborn viral diseases, I haven't seen where it's been traced back.

Aubrey did contact everyone who received a snake from him over the last few months to let them know about the disease, and AFAIK those collections are all locked down. So, hopefully it won't go forward.