I was not able to get the edit completely finished and wanted to add:

Most of the bad information is coming from other vets. I can provide links to sites where vets other than Jacobson are stating things about the disease that are just plain wrong. Kaplan is a perfect example....

This information makes it to forums where it is repeated and spread.

Let me relate my experience with IBD:

One of my dwarf boas went through a recent period of anorexia. I have had this animal for almost 5 years. After running blood tests, x-rays, etc. no abnormalities could be found. He was losing quite a bit of weight and had gone from 1200 grams to 900 grams in a short period of time.

The blood panel was tested for IBD - and came back negative. However, after consultation with the vet, it was decided that a liver biopsy may provide a better shot at discovering an IBD infection.

The liver biopsy came back negative. In the meantime, the snake began showing signs of septicemia.

After consulting with other vets, it was determined that even a negative liver biopsy can be inconclusive for ruling out IBD - as perhaps the inclusion cells (if infected) may be in the brain, or another organ. The snake was put on flagyl for the septicemia with the hopes of also stimulating his appetite.

In the meantime, he was also put in the "isolation ward" apart from the rest of my animals - where he remains to this day. As this was occuring, both my male ball python, one of my male womas and all of my male antaresia went on hunger strikes. All of my colubrids were still eating fine.

At this point, my fear was that it was undiagnosed IBD and had spread to my collection. Fortunately, the males ate again once out of sensory range of the females.

Per consultation with my vet and a local university, all of my boas are to remain in quarantine until we can see whether or not these symptoms progress. We are also keeping constant watch on the pythons for signs of subclinical infections.

I walked into this situation thinking that since I bleached and chloro'd everything and practiced proper quarantine procedures that IBD was not a concern for me. I have so far learned otherwise. I learned that even though my boa has gone 5 years with no symptoms he could be a carrier. I learned that despite a biopsy and two blood panels - he still can't be deemed clean. I also learned that my pythons are probably okay, but if infected that they don't necessarily die quickly as I had been led to believe.

I have spent over a grand in vet bills. While that is a small price to pay compared to those who have lost their beloved animals, a small nagging part of me is worried that we're not out of the woods yet. I've got several vets involved who are still worried that it's IBD - and it makes me sick to my stomach to contemplate having to put down my beloved pets.

So when I caution people to think long and hard before adding to their boid collection and to read all of the research available, I do it not to scare - but to hopefully shed some light on the potential consequences of not being fully informed.