W
wokka
Guest
OPMV can incubate for up to 12 months. So those who have written here, that they follow strict quarantine protocol for 6 months may not be quarantining them long enough for this virus to show its face, if it is going to. Another has already pointed out on this thread that even a carrier can seem healthy and suddenly show all the symptoms in say 8 months. By this time you have introduced your new snakes to your collection.
I've also heard from various sources that OPMV in Australia isn't the same strain that is effecting reptiles in other countries. The strain here in Australia, although symptoms are very much the same it does not show up when tested. Thats why (so I discovered) Veterinary reports will state "showing symptoms consistent with OPMV" and don't give a confirmed postive diagnosis. So maybe what we have here is a strain that has developed here, perhaps from wild snakes? Still more mystery that goes unsolved.
There is a line somewhere when opmv stops and a new disease starts. It doesn't really matter if the disease is opmv , a new strain of opmv, or a new vius. The important thing is that there are diseases out there, discovered and undiscoverrred that are contageous and can kill reptiles. Accordingly all animals should be treated as though contageous and contact with other animals and keepers minimised. This is the way all animals are kept eg Johnes in sheep and cattle doesn't close the industry down but does require that stock owners take it into account in their day to day management practices.Panic and paranoir helps nothing.