How contagious is "Ibd" in boas

[richardhind1972]

I understand if know one wants to discuss this on an open forum, so please pm me if you want, it would be appreciated, if anyone has come across it in there collection and an outcome, good or bad if possible
I need to know if this is passed on by bodily fluids of just contact
Thanks Richard

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[mdb730]

The way I understood it IBD spreads with direct contact with infected snakes, bad hygiene or mites. I have never seen an actual case of IBD and thought it very unlikely I would ever seen one. Unfortunately I was recently told by a large scale breeder that his vet believes that about 35- 40% of the CB Boa population carries the virus in it's dormant state and most won't ever show signs but Pythons die very quickly from it. I'm not one to spread fear but that is the reason why I only buy boas from established names and reputable breeders.This is one reason most people keep their boas and pythons in separate rooms or even separate floors or buildings, or decided not to breed boas at all. You can get your boas tested at a vet for peace of mind.

[Bogertophis]

I have no personal experience with IBD either but my understanding (from reading) is the same as above post, namely that it's thought to spread by contact, or
by bodily fluids (includes breeding), & probably by mites as well. I know pythons tend to succumb far quicker than boas, also that other species (such as colubrids)
are suspected of being asymptomatic carriers at times (don't know if that's now proven or not?). I've only heard rumors about the higher percentage of boas now
thought to be carriers...that's awful so I hope that vet is wrong, but he or she is in a far better position to "know" than I am. It's assumed to be pretty contagious,
but it's just so awful that no one wants to risk it anyway. Sad for pythons to be the "canary in the coal mine".

[AbsoluteApril]

older but still interesting discussion we had on fauna about it - I shared pics in that thread of a retic with IBD that someone had given me permission to post.
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=309529

I've heard first hand accounts of people having to euthanize their entire collection due to crypto outbreaks and destroy all equipment but in my 20 years involved with boas and other boa keepers, never heard much about anyone having IBD and no one directly that I know. I keep hearing rumors like those posted above but never hear any proof or stories about it. I highly doubt "35- 40% of the CB Boa population carries the virus" but I don't really know of course.

Having gone through my own IBD scare, boa showing neuro symptoms, I closed my collection for 5 years and that boa was euthanized and another that died for unrelated causes both had full necropsy and tissue samples tested for IBD, luckily negative in my collection.

It's wonderful that there is a blood test for it now! I'm not saying take it lightly but I think people are overly worried about it at the same time. Doesn't help that there are many other issues and causes that mimic some of the neuro symptoms so the first thing people think is 'omg it has IBD'. It is a very scary thing that I hope to never have to deal with.

edit to add - as far as I know - it's still not 100% determined how it's passed. I don't know if Dr Jacobson is still working on it or not

[richardhind1972]

Thanks every one for the replies, much appreciated

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