OPMV....know much about it?

[AntaresiaLady]

Thankyou Wrasse for your explanation- I at least understood that one!

 

[Stevo]

Its is certainly a very tricky and touchy subject. I had a slight scare about a year ago with a darwin carpet and it is not a nice feeling. I had owned the darwin for nine years and was my favourite snake. After cooling (which can lower the immune system) when heat returned to normal , i noticed he wasnt as active as normal. His tail was starting to kink and in a matter of a 2 weeks it was progressing up the body. I was scared outa my wits thinking IBD so promptly took him to a well known herp vet in victoria. Kudos to the vet he was very honest but only suggested that there was a chance it could be IBD. Because not enough is known and symptons can differ the only way to test is post mortem. I agreed to have him euthanised (nearly cried) and then had the longest week waiting for results. I was thinking if it is i have to euthanise 24 pythons , which apart from the monetary value is something I wouldnt want anyone to have to do. The vet had concluded it was neurological but told me that there is 5 ways for it to have happened
1. toxic (as stated by wrasse i think which is poisoning or similar)
2. from a blow to the head or fall
3 bacterial (danger)
4 viral (danger)
5 degenerative
The autopsy was done to try and rule out options 3 and 4, which means it was contracted from something.
The results of the autopsy ruled out a bacterail or viral reason, so i was very happy but still didnt answer what it was. I have kept the autopsy result and had no problem with any reptile since but because of the worry have upgraded quarantine and only bought 2 snakes since. It really makes you worry about purchasing animals of anyone.
Stevo

 

[Sdaji]

Heat stress is another common cause of neurological problems, often misdiagnosed as OPMV.

The "two forms of OPMV" almost certainly represent two different things, both lumped together due to a lack of knowledge/understanding. A lot less is known about reptile viruses than most people realise. We don't even understand some fairly common human viruses for lack of funding; reptile viruses are obviously receiving even less attention from those with the resources to properly research it.

 

[Wrasse]

..and as long as we keep diagnosing every odd symptom our reptiles show, as OPMV, no further research will get done.

 

[Craig2]

well since it came up agn here is what was said last time

 

[Deb64]

This is such a scary topic..... Its one we dont want to see written as it makes us realise how close to home it is..
I am very interested in reading posts from people who have been through it and survived it... I want to know what they went through and how they got through it..
is there life AFTER OPMV?

 

[Moreliaman]

the sadest thing really (apart from you lot bickering instead of having a healthy debate) is...should the unthinkable actually happen.......by the time you realise your collection has the virus....half if not all of your stock will be infected...and it will be too late !