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

Jelena Prpic,Dubravko Forcic,Lorena Jemersic,Tomislav Keros,Maja Lang Balija

doi:10.1186/s12917-017-1015-6

Jelena Prpic, Dubravko Forcic + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-1015-6

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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.

Highlights

In 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
Our results imply that the infection was introduced into the healthy collection by new snakes that were not previously tested or showing signs of disease
Since no vaccine is presently commercially available, basic veterinary health checks and quarantine measures are of great importance to minimize the risk of infection among newly established snake groups

Summary

Introduction

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. The same symptoms and a high mortality rate were observed in in-contact snakes from other collections belonging to different snake families. Paramyxoviruses (PMV) are negative sensed single stranded RNA viruses with a helical nucleocapsid packaged in a pleomorphic envelope and are classified as members of the Paramyxoviridae family, genus Ferlavirus [5, 6, 11]. The purchase and introduction of new reptiles into an established collection is of high risk in regards to disease spread and manifestation as well as a probable cause of a higher mortality rate. It has been demonstrated that viral infections such as inclusion body disease (IBD) and PMV [12], as well as some bacterial infections, represent a significant

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