Adenovirus Hepatitis in a Boa Constrictor (Boa Constrictor)

Abstract

months of age, is slowly progressive, and is characterized by truncal ataxia, increased tone of the extensor musculature, and nystagmus. 1,2,4 Lesions are confined to the cerebellum and consist of atrophy and loss of Purkinje cells and granule cells. 1,2,4 Although some of the gait and postural abnormalities observed in affected pups suggest possible cerebellar involvement, neuronal changes in the cerebellum were not identified, and the age of onset and clinical course was distinct from CCA.Autosomal recessive disorders may emerge in a population as the prevalence of a deleterious gene or degree of consanguinity increases. Pedigree analysis and breeding trials demonstrate that this disorder is an autosomal recessive trait, which marks both parents and two thirds of surviving offspring as carriers. A test to identify carriers has not been developed. In order to decrease the prevalence of this gene in the breed, the parents and siblings of affected pups should be excluded from the breeding population unless test matings are used to determine that individual siblings are not carriers.Acknowledgements Adenovirus hepatitis in a boa constrictor (Boa constrictor)Abstract. A boa constrictor was submitted for postmortem evaluation. At necropsy, there were no substantial lesions except in the liver. Light microscopy revealed severe multifocal to coalescing coagulative necrotic hepatitis, with basophilic and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in hepatocytes within the necrotic foci. The histopathological findings suggested a viral hepatitis. An adenoviral infection was diagnosed by means of transmission electronic microscopy and in situ hybridization techniques.In reptiles, adenovirus infections have been described in Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus), 7 several species of lizards, 4,6,9,10,12,13 and snakes. Among snakes, adenovirus hepatitis has been described in a boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) 8 and 2 rosy boas (Lichamura trivirgata). 17 In the boa constrictor, viral inclusion bodies were reported only in the liver, 8 whereas in the rosy boas, they were observed in renal epithelial cells, endocardium, and epithelial cells of the lung also. 17 This report describes the clinical, pathological, and ultrastructural findings in a boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) diagnosed with adenovirus hepatitis.A 2-kg, young, male, captive-bred boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) was submitted for postmortem evaluation. The snake had been acquired approximately 3 months before submission and had been housed alone in a wooden cage. The snake had been anorexic for 2 months. Twenty-four Received for publication December 13, 1999. hours before death, the snake was force fed, but it regurgitated the meal. At necropsy, there were no significant lesions except the liver was slightly enlarged with swollen borders and small pale areas scattered throughout the parenchyma. Tissues from major organ systems (stomach, intestine, lung, heart, liver, spleen, and kidney) were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution and processed for li...

An Outbreak of Adenoviral Infection in Inland Bearded Dragons (Pogona Vitticeps) Coinfected with Dependovirus and Coccidial Protozoa (Isospora Sp.)

“…Adenoviral infection has been identified in several reptiles, including Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus), 7 rosy boas (Lichanura rosefusca), 16 boa constrictors (Boa constrictor), 4,8,15 a 4-lined rat snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata), 4 a gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica), 4 an aesculapian snake (Elaphe longissima), 4 a Savannah monitor (Varanus exanthematicus), 9 a Jackson's chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksoni), 6 a mountain chameleon (Chameleo montium), 12 bearded dragons (Pogona [ϭ Amphibolurus] barbatus and Pogona vitticeps), 10,11 and Rankin's dragons (Pogona henrylawsoni). 3 Generally, typical large intranuclear adenovirus inclusions were found in the liver or upper gastrointestinal system, including esophagus, or both.…”

“…Recently, adenoviral infections also have been reported in several reptilian species, including crocodiles, snakes, and lizards. 3,4,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]15,16 The Australian inland bearded dragon, Pogona vitticeps (Pogon: bearded in Greek), is one of the most popular reptiles in the pet trade. Two isolated cases of adenoviral infection in 4 neonatal inland bearded dragons have been reported, but the infections were limited mainly to the individuals affected.…”

First Molecular Evidence for the Existence of Distinct Fish and Snake Adenoviruses

“…Similarly, the reptilian origin of atadenoviruses was also assumed (15), and their occurrence in different ruminant and bird species, as well as in a marsupial, was also considered the result of several independent host switches from reptiles. Adenovirus infection has been reported in numerous reptilian species (23,24), including different snakes (29,31). It would be interesting to compare these viruses at the DNA sequence level and to clarify their genetic relationship to the corn snake isolate and to other atadenoviruses.…”

Degenerative Encephalopathy in a Coastal Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata) due to Adenoviral-like Infection

“…The technique of DNA in situ hybridization used in this study was previously used to help positively identify adenovirus as the cause of hepatitis in a boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) (Ramis et al, 2000) and a viral enteropathy in a Mojave rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus) (Perkins et al, 2001). DNA in situ hybridization helped to identify the intranuclear inclusions in the brain of this kingsnake as adenoviral-like inclusion bodies.…”

“…The probe solution was composed of a cocktail of oligonucleotide probes FN-23 and FN-96. These probes detect an adenovirus structural capsid protein and had previously been used to detect reptilian adenovirus in paraffin embedded tissue sections (Ramis et al, 2000;Perkins et al, 2001). Probe FN-23 is probably responsible for most of the reactivity, but the combination of probes is routinely used for diagnostic work.…”