Quote Originally Posted by Skiploder View Post
There is no proof that balls or other pythons cannot live indefinitely and asymptomatically with the disease. The researchers have stated this - even in correspondence to members of this forum . There is no proof that IBD kills balls quickly or that they come down with it easier.
Which is why I said that due to the perception that BP's aren't asymptomatic carriers, people would be more likely to start testing their boas first. Otherwise it would take several people willing to admit that they had a BP that tested IBD+ many months ago, and it was still alive and asymptomatic, and the test wasn't a false positive.

Is there any proof that this disease is found in wild boids?
If I'm importing to re-sell then I would want proof that it isn't present. With an established breeder collection of clean animals you know the babies are clean.

Let's mix things up a bit. It has been theorized that a certain percentage of boids may carry be natural carriers for the disease and on occasion - may get sick. If this proves to be the case - that a certain percentage a natural carriers, how (if at all) will that change the hobby?
I think it would depend on the percentage that are carriers.

Demodectic Mange isn't really comparable to IBD - while all dogs have the mites, the few that react to them can be treated and recover. OTOH there isn't a cure for IBD.