Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Snowy]

That's a shame realy. If it is a viral infection surely there must be some form of anti-body response. Maybe it is time for them to start trying to see if they can find a way to test for it, much like with the HIV test which only tests for anti-bodies. I know it is expensive for such research but surely they would make it up over time as ith all other, given how many people would use the test as a precautionary method.

Add to that it would make it possible for reputable breeders to add to their reputation by selling only tested and certified clear snakes. This obviously would put up the price, but people maybe more inclined to pay the extra if they are getting a snake they know is clear, won't infect the rst oftheir stock/pets, etc.

Maybe it is time to start thinking about putting a little pressure on teh vet industry to see what can be come up with.

As I understand it from what I have read it can be a long time for symptoms to show, so even though a quarantine period is good practise to do as standard, it realy won't do that much to impact on this.

[peaches]

Udo Hetzel of Liverpool vetenary college has been trying to create a blood test for IBD, It was him who I sent my boa to.

At the moment the only blood test that I am aware of is taking a sample from the spinal area directly below the brain and only a very few vets can do this procedure.

They are trying to find results in the blood that confirm the biopsy when done (liver I believe) yet at the moment the results are inconclusive.

If you have a snake that you suspecct to have IBD, I really think it would be of great help to go to researching this disease if possible.
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[peaches]

No, blood from spinal column, a liver biopsy (just checked the details) can be done on a live snake.
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[medusa]

it would be a major breakthrough if a blood test was possible, but this would only prove the animal was clear at the time the test was done, and would offer no guarantee that it wouldnt later be exposed to the virus.

I have read on a couple of sites that the IBD virus is spread by direct contact and body fluids, in a similar way to the way the HIV virus spreads in humans, so therefore good husbandry and meticulous hygiene will go a long way to prevent one infected animal passing it on to the rest of your stock. I don't know much about the other virus affecting corn snakes but I know its around. In an ideal world all keepers would act responsibly and take precautions to avoid cross-infection.

Interest in keeping reptiles seems to be growing, and there are a lot of valuable animals available now, lets hope that veterinary science will also develop so that we can have better defence against these diseases.
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.."since using your new shampoo, my hair has come alive.... signed, Medusa.."

[Snowy]

I agree that the test would only prove a snake was clear at the time, the same is true for any test by the way, of the test but this would still be one way of checking for it if it was able to be done. It would be one way for people to atleast check that theirs' are clear if they are worried.

It would help when a new snake is brought into a collection to cut down the quarentine time a bit. It would also be good for a test close to sale for breeders with a good reputation as it would increase their reputation and hopefully help weed out bad breeders (of the human kind).