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10-Aug-06, 01:44 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-05 Location: Western Sydney Age: 24 | | | | Any sharing of water bowls can potentially pass on both IBD and OPMV I would say that copulation would have the same result, all ages are able to contract both.
I can't confirm yes or no to mothers passing it on through the egg.
There are a few signs I would suggest you google IBD and OPMV and having a read.
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Cheers,
Brett
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10-Aug-06, 01:47 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Dec-05 Location: Sydney Gender:  | | | I know an answer to question 4, death  there aren't many (if any) obvious symptoms until it's too late
I think thats a yes for question 1 too, I'm not going to guess at the others
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\"The less a man makes declared his statements, the less apt he is to look foolish in retrospect\"
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10-Aug-06, 01:49 PM
| | Suspended | Join Date: Jul-06 Location: Western Sydney | | | shall do  , thanks SNKMST and rennie 
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[I][quote=zulu;850084]HA HA freddo,you have a natural warmth like a rattlesnake on a warm sunny day. [/quote][url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZUMyOK358Q[/url][/I]
[B]People like you are the reason people like me need medication.[/B]
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10-Aug-06, 01:53 PM
| | | | The problem with symptomatic snakes is that have probably been carrying the virus/s and potentially infecting other reptiles for at least weeks, and likely several to many months before they show ANY symptoms at all. The symptoms themselves can be very varied, so it is almost impossible to diagnose prior to death. A confirmed diagnosis requires tissue samples from several parts of the animal, central nervous system, liver, lungs etc. Without those, you're just guessing.
Jamie. |
10-Aug-06, 02:02 PM
| | Suspended | Join Date: Feb-04 Location: Sydney | | | | People who had contact with my pythons have had to deal with the very real threat of viral infection to their own animals. The symptoms are those of opportunistic infections and diseases. The main symptom of three known virii is inclusion bodies present in brain cells and the breakdown of tissue in the cortex. This can only be signifcantly seen post mortem. The infection is through body fluids/secretions. This includes of course those produced when shedding. In ideal conditions the virus could stay viable for quite some time. It is thought to be transferred through the atmosphere and physically as in you handle one snake then handle another so you pass it on. It seems to be able to survive on the skin for several hours. This final point is anecdotal only but pertains to personal experience.
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Peter
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10-Aug-06, 02:08 PM
| | Suspended | Join Date: Mar-05 Location: Sydney | | | | It would be unlikely but I guess not impossible for a mohter to pass it on as the longest a python has lived after infecting it is about 3-6 months. |
10-Aug-06, 02:12 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-03 Location: Cairns | | | Quote: |
There are a few signs I would suggest you google IBD and OPMV and having a read.
| Inclusion Body Disease and Ophidian Paramyxovirus.
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Fool Injected Physhopath |
10-Aug-06, 04:14 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Jul-06 Location: Country NSW Age/Gender: 37 | | | | Some info from NPWS....
Inclusion Body Disease (IBD)
• The disease is thought to be caused by a virus, but one or more viruses may be capable of causing similar diseases in reptiles.
• Many reports link the disease with the presence of a retrovirus, although other viruses (herpes and reoviruses) have been identified in snakes with IBD.
• The incubation period is unknown but is likely to range from a few weeks to many months.
• The IBD virus causes ‘inclusion bodies’ that causes damage anywhere in the body.
• IBD causes progressive damage to nerves, brain, spinal chord and internal organs leading to death.
• Pythons show nervous signs with decreased appetites but no regurgitation.
• Later signs of IBD include head tremors, disorientation, lack of coordination, stargazing, and snake unable to right itself when placed on its back, convulsions and flaccid paralysis.
• The disease progresses more rapidly in pythons, takes months in boas, but only weeks/few months in pythons.
• The disease is fatal in animals that show signs of the disease, although most snakes are euthanased rather than being allowed to waste away.
• There may be ‘asymptomatic carriers’ of IBD, ie individual snakes, particularly boas, that are infected with the virus but do not show any signs of the disease.
• The disease is thought to be spread by contact with an infected snake, droplets through the air, or persons passing secretions from one snake to another during handling or cleaning.
• The disease may be diagnosed by a biopsy and by post mortem examination, but there is currently no definitive test.
• No treatment has been shown to be effective, and euthanasia is the preferred option.
Ophidian Paramyxovirus (OPMV)
• The virus affects the respiratory system and may also suppress the immune system resulting in secondary bacterial infections in the lungs and other organs.
• Snakes may carry the disease without showing any clinical signs.
• Signs of the disease include sudden death with no previous signs, abnormal respiratory sounds, open-mouth breathing, anorexia, and exudate or blood in the mouth.
• The disease progresses rapidly and spreadsquickly to other snakes if introduced into a collection. The number of deaths peaks about a month after the first deaths.
• Convulsions may be seen before death but nervous signs are generally not apparent.
• OPMV tends to be seen in the colder months of the year as the virus is thought to replicate at the optimal temperature of 30 degrees C.
• OPMV is probably transmitted through the air as droplets from the respiratory system. It may persist for some time in water bowls and pools of water, and may also be spread via faeces.
• OPMV may be diagnosed by blood sample or after death by pathology.
• No specific treatment is available, but it may be possible to treat secondary respiratory infections in some snakes with antibiotics. However, euthanasia of all snakes showing signs of the disease is the preferred option in most situations to limit the spread of the virus.
I would advise averyone to follow strict quarantine procedures for atleast 6 to 12 months after acquiring new stock or handling someone elses animals. It seems the only way to stop the disease is to prevent it from spreading.
If everyone did their part and practised good hygeine, quarantine and notified others if there is infection in their stock so the infected animals could be euthanased before spreading it further then we, as a community, could stop this terrible problem.
Shane | | |
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