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Snakes With Gastric Lesions

Snakes With Gastric Lesions. L.J. Venter South Africa. Cases. January 30, 2003 Elaphe obsolete quadrivittata Yellow Rat Snake February 20, 2003 Pseudaspis cana Mole snake August 14, 2003 Elaphe guttata guttata Corn snake. Environment. Display snakes Behind glass

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Snakes With Gastric Lesions

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  1. Snakes With Gastric Lesions L.J. Venter South Africa

  2. Cases • January 30, 2003 • Elaphe obsolete quadrivittata • Yellow Rat Snake • February 20, 2003 • Pseudaspis cana • Mole snake • August 14, 2003 • Elaphe guttata guttata • Corn snake

  3. Environment • Display snakes • Behind glass • NO mixed snake/other herptile exhibits • Non-Display snakes • Plastic boxes • Recessed cement structures

  4. Exhibit Management • Cleaned daily • Feces removed • Uneaten food items removed • Water replaced

  5. New Arrivals • Quarantine • Separate area for 1 month • All animals • Includes “donated” animals from public

  6. Diet • Majority of snakes • Mice • Large constrictors • Rabbit • Guinea pigs • Frequency of feeding varies • Species • Seasonal • Cement depression for water

  7. Index Case • Yellow Rat Snake • Found dead with an open mouth in the enclosure • No other clinical history

  8. Necropsy Findings • Mild post-mortem changes • No macroscopic abnormalities, abundant fat stores • Histopathology • Stomach • Lungs • Spleen • Kidney • Liver • Intestine/pancreatic duct

  9. Questions: • What is your case definition? • Is this a potential outbreak?

  10. Cryptosporidium serpentis • Clinical Signs • Post-prandial regurgitation • Weight loss and debilitation • Necropsy findings • Gastrointestinal tract • Thickening of rugae • Loss of segmental mobility

  11. Background • Reptiles can harbor pathogenic organisms • A reservoir for other reptiles, domestic animals, humans • Snakes do not acquire Cryptosporidium from ingesting food • Acquire it from other reptiles • Cryptosporidium is not host specific in reptiles

  12. Diagnosis • Acid fast stains • Fresh feces • Coating of regurgitated items • Gastric lavage (95% sensitivity) • Cloacal sampling (57% sensitivity)

  13. Treatment • Halofuganone and Spiromycin • Ineffective in snakes • Hyperimmune bovine colostrum • Cryptosporidium parvum in dairy cows • Administered 1% of snake body weight once a week

  14. Case 2 • Mole snake • Found dead lying next to water bowl • Ate 2 days previously

  15. Necropsy Findings • Advanced post-mortem changes • Stomach • Small intestine • Liver • Kidney

  16. Diagnostic Tests • Peripheral blood smear • Parasite identification • Stomach content smear

  17. Case 3 • Corn snake • Found dead • Has not eaten for a month

  18. Necropsy Findings • Emaciated with minimal stores • Moderate post-mortem change • Stomach/intestinal tract • Liver • Testes • Kidneys • Lung

  19. Diagnostic Tests • Peripheral blood smear • Unremarkable

  20. Outbreak Considerations • Cryptosporidiosis not identified in any of the three cases • History and clinical signs are highly suggestive of the disease • Absence of positive diagnosis? • Ignorance of disease in the early stages • Low sensitivity of acid-fast staining methods • Unavailability of more sensitive serological tests • True absence of the disease

  21. Future Steps and Control Measures • Awareness of the disease • Means of infection and spread • COMMUNICATE to keepers • Ensure adequate hygenic principles • Enclosure cleaning • Clear guidelines for new reptilian arrivals • Quarantine and testing • Gastric lavage required for all new reptiles • Vigorously pursue a diagnosis • In reptiles showing indicative clinical signs of cryptosporidiosis

  22. References • 1. Aiello, S. E. 2004. The Merck Veterinary Manual. 8 edition. Page 1418 - 1419. Merck & Co.,INC. New Jersey. • 2. Calle, P. P., Rivas, J., Munoz, M., Thorbjarnarson, J., Holmstrom, W., and Karesh, W. B. 2001. Infectious disease serologic survey in free-ranging Venezuelan anacondas (Eunectes murinus). Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine 32(3): 320-323. • 3. Graczyk, T. K. and Cranfield, M. R. 1998. Experimental transmission of Cryptosporidium oocyst isolates from mammals, birds and reptiles to captive snakes. Veterinary Research 29(2): 187-195. • 4. Graczyk, T. K., Owens, R., and Cranfield, M. R. 31-12-1996. Diagnosis of subclinical cryptosporidiosis in captive snakes based on stomach lavage and cloacal sampling. Veterinary Parasitology 67(3-4): 143-151. • 5. Graczyk, T. K. and Cranfield, M. R. 1996. Assessment of the conventional detection of fecal Cryptosporidium serpentis oocysts in subclinically infected captive snakes. Veterinary Research 27(2): 185-192. • 6. Graczyk, T. K. and Cranfield, M. R. 1997. Detection of Cryptosporidium-specific serum immunoglobulins in captive snakes by a polyclonal antibody in the indirect ELISA. Veterinary Research 28(2): 131-142. • 7. Graczyk, T. K., Cranfield, M. R., and Hill, S. L. 1996. Therapeutic efficacy of halofuginone and spiramycin treatment against Cryptosporidium serpentis (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) infections in captive snakes. Parasitology Research 82(2): 143-148.

  23. References • 8. Graczyk, T. K., Cranfield, M. R., and Bostwick, E. F. 1999. Hyperimmune bovine colostrum treatment of moribynd Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) infected with Cryptosporidium sp. Veterinary Research 30(4): 377-382. • 9. Graczyk, T. K., Cranfield, M. R., and Bostwick, E. F. 2000. Successful hyperimmune bovine colostrum treatment of Savanna monitors (<i>Varanus exanthematicus</i>) infected with <i>Cryptosporidium</i> sp. Journal of Parasitology 86(3): 631-632. • 10. Carmel, B. P and Groves, V. 1993. Chronic cryptosporidiosis in Australian elapid snakes: control of an outbreak in captive colony. Aust Vet J 70(8): 293-295. • 11. Oros, J, Rodriguez, J. L, and Patterson-Kane, J. 1998. Gastric cryptosporidiosis in a wild frilled lizard from Australia. Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine 34(4): 807-810. • 12. Taylor, M. A, Geach, M. R, and Cooley, W. A. 1999. Clinical and pathological observations on natural infections of cryptosporidiosis and flagellate protozoa in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). Veterinary Record 145(24): 695-699. • 13. Terrell, S. P, Uhl, E. W., and Funk, R. S. 2003. Proliferative enteritis in Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) assiciated with Cryptosporidium sp. infection. Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine 34(1): 69-75. • 14. Brower, A. I. and Cranfield, M. R. 2001. Cryptosporidium sp.-associated enteritis without gastritis in rough green snakes (Opheodrys aestivus) and a common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine 32(1): 101-105.

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