IBD (Inclusion Body Disease) - 2008/03/05 15:54Many times we make comments about (Inclusion Body Disease) but to be honest i am sure there are people shaking their heads as though they understand but they really don't. No one wants to look ignorant. Here are some articles to read and some videos from youtube which will show you some things to look for.
Inclusion body disease (IBD) has been increasingly diagnosed in boas and pythons ("boids"). It is believed to be a retrovirus. The way it affects these two groups of snakes is slightly different but the long term effects are the same: the disease is terminal in those animals who exhibit symptoms of the disease. Pythons, although their symptoms may be somewhat less, are just as affected as boas. There are asymptomatic carriers, so the fact that a boa or python within an infected collection does not show signs of the illness should not be taken to mean that it is immune to it. Boas are most associated with being asymptomatic carriers. Signs of infection in boas include central nervous system disorders such as paralysis, being unable to right itself when turned over, "star-gazing", inability to strike or constrict. Other signs include chronic regurgitation, extreme weight loss, respiratory infections, and dysecdysis due to the inability to control body movements enough to rub off the old skin. The disease is rapidly fatal in young and juvenile boas, typified by rapid onset of flaccid paralysis. In pythons, the disease progresses much more rapidly than in boas. Along with the above symptoms (excluding the chronic regurgitation), pythons also tend toward infectious stomatitis ("mouth rot"), heightened or exaggerated reflex responses, disorientation (which may be precipitated by the onset of central blindness) and loss of motor coordination. What causes this disease? Intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies have been identified in the epithelial cells of the kidneys and pancreas. Neuronal degeneration and lesions form in the spinal cord and brain, and may be accompanied by myelin degeneration and nerve damage. Damage to the spleen is also found, with that organ being grossly atrophied and fibrosed. Electron microscopy has found that the organism falls into the retrovirus category. The snake mite, Ophionyssus natricis, has been found in collections in which IBD has occurred but it is not implicated in all cases of infection. As this has been identified as a viral entity, it may spread like a virus, through contact between infectious organisms (such as housing an infected snake with a previously healthy one) or through airborne aerosolized secretions, or by the keeper passing secretions from one snake or enclosure to another during the course of handling or cleaning (when strict quarantine and cleaning procedures are not followed). There is at this time no treatment for the disease and, as it is at this time always fatal and highly contagious, euthanasia is the course of action recommended. Even if the snake can be kept alive through supportive measures (hydration and force-feeding), the damage to the nerves, brain, spinal cord and internal organs is so great--and progressive--that live is only prolonged with an ever decreasing quality and increasing pain. Due to the increasing incidence of this disease, it cannot be stated or urged strongly enough to QUARANTINE ALL NEW BOIDS upon acquisition for at least 3-6 months, and to take precautions when visiting other collections, pet stores and expos/swaps.
Sources Bennett, R. Avery. (1996) Neurology. In Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Douglas Mader, DVM, ed. pp. 141-148. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia PA. Done, Lisa B. (1996). Postural Abnormalities. In Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Douglas Mader, DVM, ed. pp. 406-411. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia PA. Murray, Michael J. (1996) Pneumonia and Normal Respiratory Function. In Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Douglas Mader, DVM, ed. pp. 396-405 W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia PA. Schumacher, Juergen, Elliott R. Jacobson, Bruce L. Homer, Jack M. Gaskin. (1994). Inclusion Body Disease in Boid Snakes. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 25(4):51-524. Frequently asked questions: Q: Can the disease be diagnosed in live snakes? A: Yes...through blood testing ("For hematologic and plasma biochemical determinations, 0.6 ml of blood was placed in each of three microtainer tubes containing lithium heparin. All samples were submitted for hematological and plasma biochemical determinations within 30 min after collection. Whole blood examination included RBC, WBC, differential WBC, and determination of PCV, and Hb concentrations. Plasma biochemical analyses included determination of concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, calcium, glucose, phosphorus, total bilirubin, cholesterol, uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulin, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, SGPT. For comparative purposes, clinically affected boa constrictors were arbitrarily categorized as either acutely affected (<2 months following onset of signs) or chronically affected (>2 months following onset). Acutely affected snakes had leukocytosis, relative lymphocytosis, lower total protein and globulin values, and significantly higher SGOT values than did chronically affected snakes. Here's data on the acutely affected (n=6, out of a study group of 15; Schumacher, et al.) RBC 0.7 +/- 0.1 Hemoglobin 7.6 1.2 PCV 22.3 4.1 WBC 13,733 6,639 Heterophils 19.7 13.3 Lymphocytes 46.8 20.5 Monocytes 3.8 2.4 Eosinophils 0.2 0.4 Basophils 3.2 6.4 Azurophils 23.3 7.4
To determine the actual presence or absence of inclusion bodies requires biopsies of organ tissue for analysis. Q: How long in minimum/maximum is the lifespan of an individual who exhibits symptoms of the disease? A: It apparently fatal to all but the asymptomatic carriers. Time of death varies between individuals, and pythons tend to die faster than boas. Based on the research in the Schumacher article (quoted above for the blood values), some boas at least are hanging on for several months. Whether they should be allowed to hang on, in light of the very obvious distress and destruction of organs and CNS, is another matter... Q: What are the living conditions of this virus - how will he react to heat or cold, what kind of disinfection works?... A: At this point, they don't know. To quote Bennett: "No treatment has been shown to be successful for this viral disease. It may be mild in boas and may go undiagnosed. It is, therefore, best to prevent exposure of pythons to boas. Schumacher, in the same source (Mader) states: "At present there is no treatment. Strict quarantine procedures should be followed when introducing newly acquired snakes (especially boas) into an established collection. Once the disease has been diagnosed, euthanasia of affected snakes is the only way to prevent the infection from spreading." Schumacher states that snakes in public and private collections in the U.S., Africa and Europe have been diagnosed with this disease. One of his references is the article I cited in above; the other is Schumacher, J: Atiologische und pathologische Untersuchungen uber die sog. EinschluBkorperchenerkrankung der Riesenschlangen (Boidae). Vet Med Diss (Munich), 1992. --------- www.herphalfwayhouse.com
Inclusion Body Disease (IBD) is the one word which strikes fear into the hearts of all boa and python keepers as it is incurable and ultimately always leads to death. It is also a very unpleasant illness causing great suffering in the snake before death or humane euthanasia. Unfortunately, as there is currently no treatment for this disease, the best weapon is prevention.
What is Inclusion Body Disease?
IBD is believed to be caused by a retrovirus and seems to affect only members of the “boid” family, i.e. pythons and boas. It affects the two groups of snakes in different ways but in both cases, the condition is always fatal once the snake begins exhibiting symptoms of the disease. Snakes can also be asymptomatic but still be carriers of the disease – boas, for example, often harbour the virus without exhibiting any symptoms. Thus, if a snake that is housed with other infected snakes is not showing any symptoms, this does not necessarily mean that it is immune to the disease – and it can still be a source of infection for other, new snakes. The disease is believed to be caused by “inclusion bodies” (a type of retrovirus) which have been identified in the epithelial cells of the kidneys and pancreas of affected snakes. It has also been associated with neuronal degeneration and lesions in the spinal cord and brain, which may then lead to myelin degeneration and nerve damage. In addition, the spleen often becomes grossly atrophied and fribrosed. In some cases, snakes infected with IBD have also been found to be infected by the snake mite, Ophionyssus natricis, but as this parasite is not present in all cases of the disease, a definitive causal link cannot be established.
What are the Symptoms?
Pythons and boas exhibit slightly different symptoms, with the disease developing more slowly in the latter. Infected boas are often struck with disorders of the nervous system such as the inability to right itself when turned over, “star-gazing”, inability to strike or constrict – or even just full-on paralysis. Boas can also show extreme weight loss and suffer from chronic regurgitation, as well as respiratory infections. IBD is more aggressive in pythons which, in addition to the symptoms described for the boas, also suffer from “mouth rot” (infectious stomatitis), disorientation and loss of muscle coordination and reflex responses that are heightened or exaggerated. In both, the disease is particularly rapid and fatal in juveniles, where death quickly follows the onset of flaccid paralysis.
Prevention is Better than Cure
Because it is highly contagious (and always fatal) the best course of action upon discovering the disease is euthanasia. Even if the snake can be kept alive for a period of time, by supportive measures such as force-feeding and hydration, it is only prolonging the animal’s suffering as the damage to the nerves, brain, spinal cord and internal organs is so extensive, there is no chance of recovery and only decreasing quality of life for the reptile. As there is no cure (other than euthanasia), prevention really is the only hope. IBD is believed to be spread by viral transmission so the following may all contribute to the disease: • Housing infected individuals with healthy snakes (contact with infectious organisms) • Transmissions through airborne aerosolised secretions • Poor hygiene and indiscriminate handling (transmissions through keeper passing infection from one snake or enclosure to another) For this reason, strict quarantine and cleaning procedures should always be adhered to. Anyone acquiring a new python or boa should keep it in strict quarantine conditions for at least 3-6 months and if you have a pet boa or python, take great care and precautions when visiting pet stores or other reptile collections. --------- www.herphalfwayhouse.com
History: Inclusion body disease of boid snakes has been recognized since the mid 1970's. It is named for the characteristic intracytoplasmic inclusions which are seen in epidermal cells, oral mucosal epithelial cells, visceral epithelial cells, and neurons. In the 1970's, through the late 1980's, this disease was most commonly seen in Burmese pythons, Python molusus bivittatus. Starting in the late 1980's until present, it has been seen most commonly in boa constrictors, Boa constrictor. Host: All boid snakes should be considered susceptible. While the disease has not been identified in non-boid snakes, it is unknown whether nonboid snakes can harbor the virus. The primary host of this virus has not been identified. Distribution: Worldwide in captive boid snakes. Its occurrence in the wild is unknown. Several cases have recently been seen in captive pythons in Australia, Canary Islands, and Italy. The transport of captive snakes in the pet trade and transport between different zoologic institutions probably account for the spread around the world. Ages Affected: Has been identified primarily in adult snakes. However, all age groups should be considered susceptible. There are anecdotal reports of infection in neonates. Etiologic Agent: A retro-like virus has been incriminated as the causative agent of IBD (Figure 1). We have several isolates from boa constrictors that will be used in future transmission study to fulfill Koch's postulates and determine if any of the isolates is the causative agent. Categorization of the virus as a retrovirus is based upon morphogenesis in cell culture and reverse transcriptase activity in cells infected with this virus. Two isolates have been purified and a polyclonal antibody has been raised in rabbits against one of the isolates. Using immunogold labeling, the polyclonal recognizes the virus as evidenced by gold labeling of virions. Sequencing of 2 of the isolates is underway in a collaborating retrovirology laboratory in Hawaii. Clinical Signs: Clinical signs are quite variable. Regurgitation and signs of central nervous system disease (Figure 2; Figure 3; Figure 4A and Figure 4 are commonly seen in boa constrictors. Stomatitis, pneumonia, undifferentiated cutaneous sarcomas (Figure 5), lymphoproliferative disorders, and leukemia have all been seen. Burmese pythons generally show signs of central nervous system disease without manifesting any other clinical signs; regurgitation is not seen in Burmese pythons. Pathology: By light microscopy, in hematoxylin and eosin stained tissues sections of a wide variety of epithelial and neuronal cells, characteristic intracytoplasmic inclusions are seen. Several snakes have been seen with proliferative pneumonia (Figure 6). While inclusions are commonly seen in the liver, kidney, and pancreas (Figure 7; Figure 8; Figure 9), we have seen cases where there are very few inclusions. In a few snakes with signs of central nervous system disease, and with a severe encephalitis, no inclusions have been seen in any cells. While the presence of characteristic inclusions is diagnostic for the disease, the absence of inclusions does not necessarily mean the snake is disease or IBD virus free. While cells having inclusions may show mild degenerative changes, inflammation is rarely seen in visceral tissues. In the brain, mild to severe encephalitis, with lymphocytic perivascular cuffing may be seen. Several snakes with lymphoproliferative disorders have been identified with lymphoid infiltrates in multiple organs. Transmission: Exact route of transmission has not been identified. Possibly by: 1) direct contact; 2) intrauterine transmission to developing embryos in viviparous species and eggs in oviparous species; 3) veneral transmission. The snake mite, Ophionyssus natricis has been implicated as a vector for the virus since mite infestations are commonly seen in epizootics of IBD. Diagnosis: Currently there is no serologic assay available for determining exposure. If one of the retroviruses we have isolated is found to be the causative agent, we will be able to start developing a serological test. Boa constrictor immunoglobulin has been purified and a mice have been inoculated to produce a polyclonal against this immunoglobulin. At the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, we perform complete blood counts on suspect snakes. Infected snakes commonly have white blood cells counts >30,000/ul. Intracytoplasmic inclusions are occasionally seen in peripheral lymphocytes (Figure 10). We also take esophageal, gastric, and liver biopsies. To make a more rapid diagnosis, cytologic smears can be made from biopsies and stained using a modified hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) technique: 1. Fix 1 minute in 10% neutral buffered formalin 2. Stain 3 minutes in Harris hematoxylin 3. One dip into acid alcohol 4. Briefly wash in running water 5. Dip into 0.5%ammonia to blue the nuclei 6. Wash in running water 7. Counterstain in eosin for 40 seconds 8. Dehydrate in a series of alcohols: 95%-100%-100% 9. Place in xylene and mount as with a paraffin embedded section I have found this staining far superior than using Wright-Giemsa staining. With Wright Giemsa staining the inclusions stain basophilic and may not be readily recognizable. With H&E staining, inclusions stain exactly the same as in tissues embedded in paraffin, sectioned and stained with H&E. It must be remembered that absence of inclusions in the biopsies does not necessarily mean the snake is free of IBD. In some cases inclusions may only be seen in the central nervous system, and in those cases may be few in number. The diagnosis is only as good as the portion sampled and biopsies routinely represent a relatively small portion of the entire tissue. If inclusions are identified in any cells, euthanasia is recommended. Control: Identify infected snakes and euthanatize. All new snakes should be quarantined for minimally 90 days before introduction into an established collection. Recommendations for boas is 6 month quarantine period. Mite control and elimination is essential. Fibroglass cages of infected snakes should be cleaned with chlorox and left out in the sun to dry before being used for other snakes. Wooden cages, unless sealed with urethane or some other sealant should be discarded. Current and Future Research: The major lines of research involve identification and isolation of the causative agent and then development of a serodiagnostic test. To date we have received approximately $24,000.00 in support of research to achieve these goals. Most of this money has come as donations from the Orlando and Mid-Atlantic Reptile Expos. Unless we are extremely lucky, it will take significantly more money to do this work. Most progress in laboratories is ultimately dependent upon participation by graduate student and post-doctoral fellows. Unfortunately we have not had the funding necessary to hire someone in our laboratory to exclusively work on this problem. Until this is done, progress will be slow. Last year our laboratory had a visiting faculty member from another university who purified and characterized several of our isolates. While visiting us for nine months much progress was made. However, since leaving it has slowed done once again. Given the number of snakes that have died of this disease over the last few years, IBD should be considered the most important health problem of captive snakes in the world today. Hopefully as the significance of this disease is appreciated, more money will become available. References: Schumacher J, Jacobson ER, Homer BL, Gaskin JM. 1994. Inclusion body disease in boid snakes. J Zoo and Wildlife Med 25(4):511-524. Axthelm MK. 1985. Viral encephalitis of boid snakes. Int Colloq Pathol Reptiles Amphib 3:25. (Abstract) Carlisle-Nowak MS, Sullivan N, Carrigan M, Knight C, Ryan C, and Jacobson ER. 1998. Inclusion body disease in two captive Australian pythons (Morelia spilota variegata and Morelia spilota spilota). Aust Vet J 76:98-100. Jacobson ER, Klingenberg RJ, Homer BL, Mader DR. 1999. Inclusion body disease. Bull of the Assoc Reptil Amphib Vet. 9:18-25. Jacobson ER, Oros J, Tucker S, Pollock D, Vaughn K, Munn RJ, Lock B, Mergia A, Yamamoto JK. 2001. Isolation and characterization of retroviruses from boid snakes with inclusion body disease. Am J Vet Res 62:217-224. Oros J, Tucker S, Jacobson ER. 1998. Inclusion body disease in two captive boas in the Canary islands. Vet Rec 143:283-285. Raymond JT, Garner MM, Nordhausen RW, Jacobson ER. 2001. A disease resembling includion body disease of boid snakes in captive palm vipers (Bothriechis marchi). J Vet Diagn Investig 13:82-86. Wozniak E, McBride J, DeNardo D, et al. Isolation and characterization of an antigenically distinct 68-kd protein from nonviral intracytoplasmic inclusions in boa constrictors chronically infected with the inclusion body disease virus (IBD: retroviridae). Vet Pathol 37:449-459. For More Information Contact: Dr. Elliott Jacobson Box 100126 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Florida Gainesville, Florida 32610-0126 E-mail: JacobsonE@vetmed.ufl.edu --------- www.herphalfwayhouse.com
Re:IBD (Inclusion Body Disease)2 - 2008/09/15 05:29I hope you don't mind I made it a "sticky", Dave? I think this is important for everyone to read. Thank you for this info
Re:IBD (Inclusion Body Disease)2 - 2009/07/01 09:56i have a smaller colombian, about 2 3/4", that i bought from a very good pet store when he was itty bitty... hes never been in with others snakes since, and the batch he was with was CB. he started star gazing and acting funny... then moving funny... so i took him to the reptile vet near my house and they ran some blood tests. now i know its way hard, or impossible to diagnose on a living specimen unless theres enough antibodies in the blood stream (i think, its really late, and its been a year so dont quote me) but my vet sent it to the specialist in florida and he emailed my vet back saying he was positive for IBD and tried to pressure me into putting my snake to sleep. but since i had that testing done, hes actually gotten better. he still gazes and moves a little odd, but he eats and is very healthy other then that. i guess when he deteriorates, ill have him sent to florida and donate him to the research. i was heartbroken when i found out.
Re:IBD (Inclusion Body Disease)2 - 2009/11/12 01:00yeesh, this one scares the crap outta me. I lost a cat to a terminal illness that caused fluid on his lungs and I never really recovered from that loss (he was a really great kitty). If my ball ever got IBD I'd be totally devastated.
mom2twinsplus2 : Doug at Deer Fern knows an amazing amount about uro's and reptiles in general. I spent hours on the phone with him before I made my purchase. I think most uro care is similar but he talks about the species differences there as well.
Domsmom89 : oh ok great! thank you, cuz I was like that guy is dumb as heck lol
mom2twinsplus2 : Saharan and Nigerian are same thing....«link»
Domsmom89 : oh wait no wrong sight, but it doesnt have the Nigerian uros on there are they all basically the same?
Domsmom89 : The guy at the pet store told me about it but it said the sight was under construction?
mom2twinsplus2 : Have you looked at the deer fern farm care sheet for uro's? It is a great site with tons of information!
mom2twinsplus2 : I really don't know how to tell if it is a boy or a girl. I got my two little guys from doug dix at deer fern farms and he is amazing to talk to about uros. He sent me a boy and a girl that look quite different and he told me which was which so I am just going on that. I have not wanted to handle them much cause they are little and still really, really nervous and skiddering about a lot. They are eating now which is a relief but I won't be flipping them upside down to looke at vents for a
Domsmom89 : Do you possibly know how to tell if its a boy or girl?
Domsmom89 : Thats what the guy at the pet store told me, he said low 70s at night and anywhere from 80 to 130 durring the day.
mom2twinsplus2 : Mine haven't frozen yet <grin>. I think they come from kind of desert conditions where it is hot by day and cool by night, don't they?
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are commonly seen in boa constrictors. Stomatitis, pneumonia, undifferentiated cutaneous sarcomas (Figure 5), lymphoproliferative disorders, and leukemia have all been seen. Burmese pythons generally show signs of central nervous system disease without manifesting any other clinical signs; regurgitation is not seen in Burmese pythons. 
