First recorded case of paramyxovirus infection introduced into a healthy snake collection in Croatia

Abstract

BackgroundIn the present study, we describe the first paramyxovirus infection in a snake collection in Croatia caused by an introduction of new snakes that were not previously tested and didn’t show any signs of disease.Case presentationIn less than a month after introduction into a healthy colony, new snakes began to show respiratory symptoms (i.e. mouth opening, wheezing, etc.) and died within a month and a half after antibiotic therapy was applied. The same symptoms and a high mortality rate were then observed in in-contact snakes from other collections belonging to different snake families.ConclusionsTwo entries of new snakes in different time periods were recorded and recognized as possible sources of infection. We stress the need for veterinary health control and monitoring of snakes prior to transportation as well as implementing obligatory quarantine measures to minimize the risk of infection among newly established snake groups.

The Role of Host Species in Experimental Ferlavirus Infection: Comparison of a Single Strain in Ball Pythons (Python regius) and Corn Snakes (Pantherophis guttatus)

“…The general virus prevalence in organs in the ball pythons (Figure 4) demonstrated an increase to day 16 with almost 100% positive samples in all organs, and then a reduction to 26% on day 49. Interestingly, this was similar in corn snakes with other virus strains, but with an identical virus, the detection rate increased continuously to 100% on the last study day (35) [13]. Together with the antibody and hematology results, this finding strengthens the hypothesis that ball pythons were better able to combat infection and therefore developed less severe disease than corn snakes infected with the same virus strain.…”

“…In cases in which virus characterization has been reported, genogroup B viruses have been associated with respiratory or CNS disease or sudden death in boas, colubrids, pythons, and vipers in various collections in Europe [20]; with an outbreak of respiratory disease and high mortality in a mixed collection of elapids, vipers, and pythons in Croatia [35]; with colubrids or elapids experiencing respiratory disease in snake farms in China [31]; and with viperids, colubrids, elapids, and pythons with respiratory disease (but not in clinically healthy snakes) in several collections in Thailand [28]. Virus detection by at least one of the methods used was successful in 75% of the lung samples, 50% of the intestinal samples, 42% of the pancreas samples, 75% of the kidney samples, and 67% of the brain samples.…”

“…However, there were significant differences in immune response depending on the virus used. Animals that were infected with the genogroup B isolate developed the highest white blood cell counts (WBC), but antibodies were only detectable in a single animal at a low titer shortly before death (which in this group occurred on day 35). Animals in the groups that received the group A and C viruses developed high antibody titers (by HI) over the course of the study and showed significantly fewer clinical signs and pathological findings.…”