KSB - do they get IBD?

I have heard that certain boas have never been recorded as getting IBD or being unlikely to have it. I am wanting to add another sand boa to my collection, but am deathly afraid of IBD due to my ball pythons. What do you all think?

I believe all boids are at risk

In the book Reptiles, Amphibians, and Invertebrates By Patricia Pope Bartlett, Billy Griswold, Richard D. Bartlett, they list Inclusion body disease as a possible problem for the Kenyan Sand Boa. They also say all boas and pythons are succesptable. There are other retroviruses that have been found in different snake species. I have not read any articles specifically studying cases of IBD or other retroviruses in the Kenyan Sand Boa. IMO not enough is known about IBD at this time, and many answers are speculative at best.

If you decide to add this snake, I would suggest a longer than normal quarantine. You can also have a live snake tested for IBD. This would be the safest way, but costly. As many have discussed here people do succesfully keep boas and pythons. The biggest risk in adding new boas is the fact that there are reports of boas being asymptomatic for long periods of time.

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1193548,1195199

Second hand info - take it for what it's worth.

Does this mean my Boid (which is a KSB) is succeptable to a Boid-exclusive disease? Not that I'm worrying about it.

Yes, highly doubtful. But every snake has a chance of carrying it. This is why quarantine is so important.

According to my herp vet.....which does some of these studies and such, KSB are one of the only boids that to date are not effected in any way.

If you have a large collection it might be worth having the snake tested if you do decide to get the Kenyan sand boa. In all the articles I have read, none were on the KSB. The journal articles also state it is a disease that can be carried by boids, boids who are asymptomatic.

That's a good thing to hear that my KSB won't get it.

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Originally Posted by ohyeahnow

If you have a large collection it might be worth having the snake tested if you do decide to get the Kenyan sand boa. In all the articles I have read, none were on the KSB. The journal articles also state it is a disease that can be carried by boids, boids who are asymptomatic.

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What does asymptomatic mean?

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Originally Posted by Onua Nuva

That's a good thing to hear that my KSB won't get it.

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You can never say 'won't get it'.

You still must take precautions when quarantining and stuff because, even if there isn't any hard evidence, it is a snake. You should quarantine any snake, even colubrids. It is also a boid, which, even though the chances are slim, brings up the possibility of transmitting or carrying the disease.

:]

Better be safe than sorry.

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Originally Posted by Onua Nuva

What does asymptomatic mean?

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Asymptomatic means that the animal carries the disease but does not show signs of it. Boids often times are asymptomatic (no symptoms) and can spread it to pythons without you ever knowing that it had IBD.

That's why some people avoid boids in their collection, because you may never be able to tell in quarantine if it has the disease until it's introduced to a python.

:gj:

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Asymptomatic means that the animal carries the disease but does not show signs of it. Boids often times are asymptomatic (no symptoms) and can spread it to pythons without you ever knowing that it had IBD.


:gj:

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Just a to be correct here with that deffinition,
asymptomatic means - having no symptoms of illness or disease.

asymptomatic carrier - means that the animal carries the disease, but does not show signs of it.

Wow i was thinking about getting a anery KSB but not sure now.

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

Wow i was thinking about getting a anery KSB but not sure now.

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Why?

I'm confused why you wouldn't want to get one... because KSB's are "boa's" and boa's can carry IBD? If you get a snake from a reputable breeder and quarantine properly you should be fine. I've NEVER heard of a KSB having IBD but could is happen? Possibly, but like I said above, know your breeders before buying ANY kind of snake. KSB's are AWESOME little snakes.

who are some reputable breeders? haven't really started to look too much into it but the whole asymptomatic carrier thing is a little scarey!

Dave and Tracy Barker are some of the BEST breeders in the reptile world. They know their stuff and their animals are like no others!
http://www.vpi.com/

Ted Thompson of Susquehanna Ectotherms has some top shelf KSB's:
http://www.s-ecto.com/

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

who are some reputable breeders? haven't really started to look too much into it but the whole asymptomatic carrier thing is a little scarey!

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The one link I posted is the only reference I can find to Eryx and IBD and it's a far cry from any sort of peer-reviewed scientific study.

A little research will net the OP a list of reputable breeders who can give him the medical history of their animals.

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

You can never say 'won't get it'.

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Yeah, but it is highly unlikely for her to get it. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with IBD, but I only have 2 snakes and the other one is a Colubrid.

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

who are some reputable breeders? haven't really started to look too much into it but the whole asymptomatic carrier thing is a little scarey!

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I would suggest expos since most of them do have KSBs. Also, KSBs have never been reported getting IBD (that I know of), so don't be hesitant to get one.