Snake diseases
Snakes are very insensitive to most bacteria . In the event of physiological changes (moulting, overwintering, etc.) or changed environmental conditions, the microclimate can change in favor of fungi and bacteria: for example, snakes are very sensitive to cold, and if conditions are too cold they can develop pneumonia or diarrhea. Wound infections and skin abscesses can also be more common.
Parasites
In some cases, parasites are already of great relevance to the health of a snake due to their direct influence, but also as carriers of various diseases. Snakes are infested with both endoparasites and ectoparasites . The former include various types of worms, the latter, for example, mites . Sea snakes are more likely to have leech or flatworm infestation .
Ectoparasites
Since snakes are very well protected against bites and stings by their strongly keratinized scale skin, ectoparasites always seek out parts of the body where the keratinization is less strong and the skin is thinner. These include the cloaca and the head. Most are blood-sucking parasites. The actual infestation is limited in time; once the parasite has satisfied its need, it lets go of the snake again.
The most common ectoparasites are mites , especially the blood mite of snakes ( Ophionyssus natricis ). If the infestation is severe, it can lead to anemia . In addition, it favors infectious diseases by damaging the skin. An infestation with ticks is usually harmless, representatives of the genus Ornithodorus can transmit filaria ( Macdonaldius oschei ).
Endoparasites
Endoparasites can get into the snake's body through the consumption of infected prey, but there are also species (such as some hookworms ) whose larvae actively burrow through the skin. A distinction must be made between real snake parasites and harmless pseudoparasites, that is, parasites that are ingested with the prey but do not develop any harmful effects. In addition, various worms can attack snakes as false hosts and usually cause hardly any clinical symptoms.
Monocercomoniasis ("flagellate enteritis") is of greater importance for diseases caused by protozoa . The pathogen from the genus Monocercomonas mainly causes diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The often fatal amebiasis (pathogen Entamoeba invadens ) is mainly transmitted through indirect contact with insects and causes bloody additions to the faeces. Coccidiosis can be accompanied by bloody diarrhea; a variety of Eimeriidae species occur in snakes . The Kryptosporidose (pathogen Cryptosporidium serpentis ) is accompanied by diarrhea. Some protozoa such as Sarcocystis spp., Blastocystis spp. and Haemogregarina cause no clinical symptoms.
Suction worms (trematodes) of the genus Ochetosoma occur in snakes in the mouth cavity. The infestation is usually harmless. Other species of flukes can also colonize the intestine and, especially in the case of secondary bacterial infection, cause severe intestinal inflammation. Tapeworms usually only occur in wild snakes, as they require several intermediate hosts , which are seldom available in their entirety in terrariums. The most common tapeworm representatives come from the genera Ophiotaenia and Crepidobothrium and hardly cause clinical diseases. When infected with the second larval stage (Plerozerkoiden) of various tapeworms (Cestoda), soft skin bumps appear in the skin that contain the mobile larvae.
The most species-rich parasite fauna of the snakes are the roundworms (nematodes). In the intestine can roundworms , hair worms , pinworms , strongyles (especially Kalicephalus ssp.) And Trichostrongliden occur and stronger infestation of appetite, vomiting, Kotverhaltung and emaciation cause. In the lungs, lung worms (especially Rhabdias fuscovenosa ), tongue worms ( pentastomiasis , mainly caused by Armilliferer armillatus ) and lung mites ( Vatacarus and Pneumonyssus ssp.) Can cause pneumonia with difficulty breathing and increased mucus in the airways.
Infectious diseases
Two more common viral infections occur specifically in snakes: The paramyxovirus infection of snakes is caused by the ophidian paramyxovirus (OPMV, also snake paramyxovirus; family Paramyxoviridae ) and has a very high mortality . The disease is accompanied by pneumonia and encephalitis with central nervous symptoms. The inclusion body of the boas is a fatal infectious disease caused by arenaviruses is caused (Reptarenaviren) and in the central nervous symptoms and secondary infections due to immunosuppression manifested.
Septicemia caused by bacteria is mainly caused by Pseudomonas and Aeromonas spp. evoked. Salmonella is common in snakes and is thought to be part of the normal intestinal flora . But they can also cause intestinal inflammation , and rarely septicemia. The tuberculosis usually runs subchronic in snakes and is mainly by Mycobacterium thamnopheos , M. marinum and M. chelonei caused. Local bacterial infections with abscess formation are very common in snakes . They mainly develop after injuries or lesions from parasites. Gram- negative pathogens dominate here .
Fungal diseases ( mycoses ) in snakes mainly affect the skin ( skin fungus ). These are mostly types of fungi that can be found everywhere in the soil and mainly colonize the area of the abdominal scales after injuries. The spectrum of germs is very wide, but differs significantly from that of mammals. Even systemic occur in snakes and infect the intestines, lungs and other organs. More common representatives are Cephalosporium spp., Rhizopus arrhizius and Schizangiella ssp.
The keratinophilic fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola , from the Onygenaceae family , is increasingly manifesting itself as the pathogen that seems to be responsible for a large part of skin mycoses in snakes. In recent years, the number of cases of this fungal disease in North America has increased steadily and in 2017 the fungus was first described in wild snakes in Europe. The clinical picture can be very variable, but in some cases even leads to the death of the affected animal. So far, little is known about the fungus, its distribution and its importance for snakes. Further research is needed to find out whether this fungus could pose a threat to snake populations in Europe, as is feared in some regions in the US. There the cases of this fungal disease have increased steadily, although it is not clear whether the fungus is spreading, environmental conditions are more favorable for disease outbreaks or whether the disease was simply overlooked in the past.
Skin diseases
In addition to the ectoparasites, skin fungal diseases and local skin infections already mentioned, bites from food animals, especially rats in weakened animals, and burns from heat sources occur in terrarium keeping.
Moulting problems occur especially in snakes in poor physical condition, and also when the humidity is too low. Parts of the epidermis are not shed. Most often this is found in scars, the eyes (called “glasses”) and the hemipenes . Hemipenis exuvien can persist in several layers, i.e. from several previous moults. Remnants of skin can be removed with lukewarm baths or damp cloths. Vitamin B complex and vitamin A can be given as support, the housing conditions should be checked in any case.
The vesicular rash of snakes , also incorrectly referred to as " smallpox " or "waterpox", is a disease that mainly occurs when the ground in the terrarium is too damp. This leads to the formation of lenticular-sized bubbles in the skin, which are initially filled with a crystal-clear, later whitish exudate . It is a bacterial dermatitis caused by unspecific mixed germs. If the disease persists , necrosis of the skin can form, which can extend into the muscles.
In snakes, skin cracks occur mainly when there is a lack of vitamin C as a result of prolonged food deprivation, which leads to weak connective tissue. The skin can then tear with normal touch.
Digestive system disorders
Refusal to feed is a typical symptom of digestive disorders . However, reluctance to eat can also be triggered by psychological stress. It can occur physiologically in newborn snakes, in some species also during pregnancy and in males that are ready to mate (especially with boas ).
The mouth rot is a bacterial inflammation of the oral mucosa, which occurs particularly in poorly conditioned serpents among inadequate housing conditions. It is characterized by reluctance to eat and mostly flaky accumulations of exudate.
Inflammation of the stomach lining ( gastritis ) is quite common in snakes. In addition to parasites such as roundworms and other nematodes , Monozeromonaden and Cryptosporidium occur including bacterial diseases, mostly caused by Gram-negative bacteria on. Gastritis manifests itself in an unwillingness to eat and vomiting of rotten food about 1–3 days after feeding. Inflammation of the intestine ( enteritis ) is also quite common and has a similar spectrum of causes as gastritis. In addition to unwillingness to eat, diarrhea, convulsive body movements, flatulence or a prolapse of the cloaca can occur. The treatment depends on the cause, but these gastrointestinal diseases cannot always be cured.
Constipation ( constipation ) occurs especially in giant snakes . The causes are lack of water, foreign bodies, low ambient temperature and, under certain circumstances, food animals that are too large. They manifest themselves in a lack of manure, pressing and, under certain circumstances, a cloaca prolapse. They can usually be remedied by adding paraffin and gently massaging them.
Respiratory disorders
Typical symptoms for diseases of the respiratory system are reluctance to eat, breathing difficulties , inflammation of the oral cavity and abnormal breathing noises . In the case of extensive illnesses, discharge from the windpipe can also be found. In contrast, nasal discharge is very rare in snakes.
Snakes often suffer from pneumonia . In addition to the lung parasites mentioned above and the paramyxovirus infection, bacterial pneumonia is also common. About half of the diseases are caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In addition, infections with Stenotrophomonas maltophila and Burkholderia cepacia occur. Fungi ( Aspergillus fumigatus ) and yeasts seem to be significantly less common in snakes than in tortoises, for example. Protozoa ( monoceromonads ) are also possible triggers.
Therapy usually consists of the administration of antibiotics and an increase in the ambient temperature to 30 ° C, but the prospect of a cure is uncertain.
Urinary and reproductive disorders
Kidney infections play a major role in snakes, they are mostly infectious. Since the secretion of uric acid is disturbed in kidney diseases, these excretion products quickly precipitate in the form of urate crystals (" gout ") on and in the internal organs and / or joints. The diagnosis can only be ensured by examining the abdominal cavity ( laparoscopy , endoscopy ), sometimes the crystals can also be found under the oral mucosa. An increase in the uric acid concentration in the blood to over 2.08 mmol / l is an important indicator. Therapy consists of hydration, possibly with the administration of allopurinol .
As eggbound disorders are referred to in oviposition in female snakes. Causes are the coverage of snakes that are not yet mature enough to breed, malnutrition, calcium deficiency (e.g. when feeding fish fillet alone ), inflammation of the oviduct and twisted uterus. The stuck eggs can sometimes be seen from the outside as a thickening. Cautious massage, the introduction of lubricants, calcium gluconate and oxytocin can be used therapeutically; the stuck egg may have to be surgically removed. If the normal daylight period is prevented , degeneration of the ovarian follicles can occur in snakes , which is accompanied by swelling in the area of the ovaries and causes infertility .
In males, a hemipenis prolapse occasionally occurs, especially when straining hard as a result of constipation or traumatic during coping when the female turns away prematurely. After immobilization, repositioning can be attempted; the affected hemipenis may have to be amputated. The blind sack-like skin pockets in which the two hemipenes rest can become clogged with remnants of previous incomplete moults.
literature
- Peernel Zwart, Lutz Sassenburg: Snakes. In: Karl Gabrisch, Peernel Zwart (Hrsg.): Diseases of pets. 6th completely revised edition. Schlütersche, Hannover 2005, ISBN 3-89993-010-X , pp. 739–793.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jeffrey M. Lorch, Susan Knowles, Julia S. Lankton, Kathy Michell, Jaime L. Edwards: Snake fungal disease: an emerging threat to wild snakes . In: Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B . tape 371 , no. 1709 , December 5, 2016, ISSN 0962-8436 , p. 20150457 , doi : 10.1098 / rstb.2015.0457 , PMID 28080983 ( royalsocietypublishing.org [accessed October 19, 2017]).
- ↑ Lydia HV Franklinos, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Elizabeth Bohuski, Julia Rodriguez-Ramos Fernandez, Owen N. Wright: Emerging fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in wild European snakes . In: Scientific Reports . tape 7 , no. 1 , June 19, 2017, ISSN 2045-2322 , doi : 10.1038 / s41598-017-03352-1 ( nature.com [accessed October 19, 2017]).
- ↑ The fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in snakes in Europe. Retrieved October 19, 2017 .
- ↑ Michael Pees et al. In: Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 114 (2007), pp. 388–393.