Ophidian Cloacal Scent Gland Impaction and Surgical Excision: A Case Series in Six Different Snake Species

Abstract

Members of the suborder Serpentes possess paired scent glands located caudal to the vent. In this retrospective case series (n = 6), four colubrids, a boid, and a viperid presented with cloacal scent gland impaction. The colubrids were greater than 17 yr old, had both glands initially or eventually affected (4/4, 100%), and most (3/4, 75%) were females. The python (Python regius) was a 10 yr old male, and the viper (Agkistrodon contortrix pictigaster) was of undetermined age and male. In the non-colubrid snakes, gland impaction was unilateral. Infection (4/6, 66.7%), mineralization (1/6, 16.7%), and neoplasia (1/6, 16.7%; fibrosarcoma) were associated with the gland impactions in the colubrids and python; a colubrid with neoplasia also had a concurrent bacterial infection and the cause of impaction was not determined in the viper (1/6, 16.7%). Medical management was attempted in 1/6 (16.7%) of the cases but was unsuccessful. Overall, complete surgical excision was realized in 9 of 10 (90%) affected glands. Postoperative infection of the surgery site was encountered in two (33.3%) snakes. The colubrids died 6 wk to 5 yr postoperatively of causes unrelated to the surgery. No complications occurred in a 5 yr follow-up of the viper, whereas an impaction recurred in association with residual glandular tissue and had to be surgically removed in the python 2 yr after surgery. Interspecific differences, age, husbandry, and concomitant pathological processes are suggested to be potential predisposing factors to developing a cloacal scent gland impaction, but additional cases supported by a thorough husbandry and medical history are needed to better delineate these possible associations.