Oh my god, please not IBD.

[Samuel]

wow .. I am so sorry.

Get her in and tested! Also, if it is IBD, I thinak you for taking videos. It sucks hardcore for you, but it will help people like me. I have heard what it looks like and how to "test" for it, but never seen anything like that in video.

[LadyOhh]

IBD

http://www.reptilechannel.com/reptil...y-disease.aspx

http://www.pkreptiles.com/informatio...s/ibdvirus.asp

IBD is a serious, fatal viral infection of boid snakes, first identified in the mid-1970s. It is thought to be a retrovirus. The disease has been seen in large collections in Europe, Africa, the United States and more recently, in Australia. Several cases of IBD have recently been diagnosed in Italy and the Canary Islands. Because the transport of captive snakes in the pet trade and between different zoological institutions frequently occurs, and snakes can harbor and shed the virus before manifesting overt clinical signs, we can expect this virus to spread worldwide eventually. The incidence of IBD in wild snakes is unknown at this time. Herpetologists have many names for this disease, such as twisty, stargazing disease and boid encephalitis.

In boa constrictors, the first signs may include off and on regurgitation, and some develop head tremors. Dysecdysis (abnormal shedding) may occur. Some develop chronic regurgitation and anorexia (they stop eating). Not all infected snakes regurgitate, however. Boas lose weight and may develop clogged nares (nostrils), stomatitis or pneumonia. The disease can rapidly progress to nervous system signs, such as disorientation, corkscrewing of the head and neck, holding the head in abnormal and unnatural positions, rolling onto the back or stargazing.

Clinical signs are quite variable. Regurgitation and signs of central nervous system disease are commonly seen in boa constrictors. Stomatitis, pneumonia, undifferentiated cutaneous sarcomas, leukemia and lymphoproliferative disorders have all been seen. Burmese pythons generally show signs of central nervous system disease without showing the respiratory signs. Regurgitation is not usually seen in Burmese pythons.

Pythons with IBD often develop neurological signs earlier than boas, and these signs are often more pronounced and obvious. Pythons don’t regurgitate as often as boas will. Pythons often show a progressive loss of motor function, usually in the back half of the snake, which may lead to bloating and constipation. Both boas and pythons may hold their tongues out longer when flicking. Chronic pneumonia in boids that is not responsive to antibiotic therapy and nebulization therapy may actually be IBD. Some snakes with IBD are chronically shedding the virus and are capable of spreading it throughout a collection, before clinical signs of the sick snake are realized.

The snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis) is suspected to be a vector, passing the virus from one snake to another. Often, with an outbreak of IBD, the snakes also have concurrent mite problems. Other possible ways that the virus can be transmitted include direct contact between infected and noninfected snakes, contaminated bedding, venereal transmission and intrauterine transmission to developing embryos in viviparous species and to eggs in oviparous species, although the direct route of transmission has not yet been identified.

There is still much to be learned about this terrible disease. Blood tests may show signs of viral infection initially, but often the snake will develop secondary bacterial infections due to the immunosuppressive capabilities of this virus. Sometimes the classic inclusion bodies produced by this virus are found in the snakes’ red or white blood cells. A presumptive diagnosis can be made by biopsying esophageal tonsillar crypts, or biopsy of the liver, pancreas, kidney or stomach, in addition to running a complete blood count and plasma chemistry panel. The history and physical examination are also helpful in trying to make a diagnosis. The classic inclusion bodies can be seen in the cytoplasm of certain cells; however, the absence of inclusion bodies does not rule out this disease. The characteristic inclusion bodies found in the cytoplasm are seen in epidermal cells, oral mucosal epithelial cells, visceral epithelial cells and neurons.

All boid snakes should be considered susceptible. While this disease has not been identified in snakes other than boas and pythons, it is not known at this time whether other types of snakes can harbor or transmit this virus. Also, the primary host of IBD has not been identified.

Dr. Elliot Jacobson, at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, is currently working on developing serologic tests, but this will take time and research money.

Affected snakes either die acutely or starve slowly after several years of anorexia. It is possible to keep a snake alive by force-feeding, but one should not expect a snake to recover from IBD. Infected snakes are chronic carriers and are capable of spreading this disease to other snakes, so euthanasia is recommended if a firm diagnosis is made. Many other diseases can present with the same or similar clinical signs, so euthanasia should not be performed solely based on clinical signs.

Infected snakes should be euthanized. All new snakes should be quarantined for a minimum of 90 days prior to introduction to an established collection. Recommendations for boas is a 6-month quarantine period. Mite control and elimination is essential. Fiberglass cages that housed infected snakes should be thoroughly disinfected with bleach and then left out in the sun to dry prior to housing another snake. Wooden cages, unless sealed with urethane or some other impervious sealant, should be discarded. The same holds true for wooden hide boxes and cage decorations.

[xdeus]

I'm sorry...

But you cannot take this type of thing lightly, especially if she JUST started exhibiting these signs.

I really think you need to take her to the Vet and have a necropsy done to conclude whether or not it is just in this animal or if it really is something that can be contagious.

I really really hope for your sake it isn't.

Keep us updated.

Whoa. I don't disagree with taking the snake to the vet, but I do disagree about a necropsy. The snake isn't dead and I wouldn't suggest euthanizing it unless it is determined that the condition is fatal.

[Samuel]

Ok lets say it is IBD, how is it transmitted, if I have other snakes in the same room, is it likely they have it, or is it just contact, or what?

That is an interesting question. I have another .. wondering to add to that. How do places like BHB and NERD prevent stuff like this from spreading? would they have to destroy their entire collections? Are they just relying on an insurance policy to keep them going through something like that?

[Tosha_Mc]

Well it doesn't look good -- but it doesn't necessarily mean that it's IBD.

IMO - at this point it looks as tho if she isn't dead soon she's not far from it -- find a good reptile vet in your area give them a call and let them know what you've got and take her in (dead or alive) for testing asap -- better to sacrifice the one to know what you have than to sit around waiting for the rest to start falling.

[LadyOhh]

Whoa. I don't disagree with taking the snake to the vet, but I do disagree about a necropsy. The snake isn't dead and I wouldn't suggest euthanizing it unless it is determined that the condition is fatal.

That may be the case, but to be able to determine what the problem is, you MUST do a necropsy.

In my mind, it is better to be safe than sorry...

If an animal like that was reacting that way, I would euthanize immediately to prevent any possible spreading of anything, and to prevent the animal from suffering any longer.

Some may not agree, and that is fine.. but I don't see the point of prolonging the suffering of that animal, as it already looks like it is on deaths door.

[xdeus]

That is an interesting question. I have another .. wondering to add to that. How do places like BHB and NERD prevent stuff like this from spreading? would they have to destroy their entire collections? Are they just relying on an insurance policy to keep them going through something like that?

Good quarantine procedures. Every reputable breeder should have an excellent quarantine procedure that would prevent the spread of disease from any incoming snake. Many breeders will also quarantine their animals after coming back from a show in case a participant transmitted something from handling different snakes.

[Peter Williams]

Jesus Christ, shes dead, I'm having a panic attack here.

[LadyOhh]

Jesus Christ, shes dead, I'm having a panic attack here.

Breathe...

And take her to the vet.

Don't freeze her body either.

Just go to a Herp Vet for a necropsy.

[xdeus]

If an animal like that was reacting that way, I would euthanize immediately to prevent any possible spreading of anything, and to prevent the animal from suffering any longer.

Sorry, I only took a look at the first video and it didn't seem bad enough to euthanize the snake. Now that I saw the last video I would have to agree with you. The snake looks pretty close to death or at the very least suffering quite a bit.