Realistic Information on IBD

[jojo6199]

Since we are considering purchasing our first boa (or two) come spring after our foster boa heads to his new home and we move into our bigger place I'd like a realistic view on IBD and any concerns regarding our current ball python collection.

I have read on the web about this but some of it seems very alarmist, some seems very casual. All in all very confusing. What are the risks of young boa's transmitting IBD to ball pythons? How common is this? Do boas carry IBD prior to actually showing symptoms? How can one be assured of getting an IBD free young boa?

Thanks everyone for your responses. I just need some decent facts and real experience here to help me make an informed decision and eventual purchase.

	Inclusion Body Disease IBD

[JuliusSqueezer]

Some really good questions.

IBD in boas can take more than a year to show any signs. Quarantine is a must when getting new animals and especially from unknown sources. Babies from a good ethical breeder who has raised his/her own breeding stock or has had the parents for a number of years and hasn't placed them with unquarantined animals is probably fairly safe. There are some out there though that will get new stock and toss them right in to breed without any quarantine. This is like playing Russian Roulette and there are of course some horror stories out there. Ask BWSmith about his IBD run in. I don't remember the name of the breeder but he purchased a nice salmon female boa who shortly thereafter died and necropsy was pos for IBD.

Ball pythons don't incubate the virus near as long as boas do. A lot of boa breeders actually cut corners on quarantine by placing a ball python in with new boas to see if the ball will come down with it since it might take a new boa a year or more, ball pythons will catch it and show symptoms and/or be dead within a matter of weeks. I don't agree with this practice. I'm just telling you what some people will do.

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	Inclusion Body Disease IBD

[jojo6199]

Actually it was partially due to learning about IBD when we decided to foster this columbian and also a lot to do with the thread about BW and his horrible experience. It scares me when an obviously educated and experienced boa keeper gets that sort of thing happening to him, what risks as a small home keeper might I face.

I feel that purchasing from an established breeder with an impeccable reputation will be the way to go when it comes to this future purchase but like anything, I'm the type to gather facts and get my ducks in a row first.

In other words, brace yourselves for my top 100 questions LOL (consider this your only warning folks!) LOL

I'm awfully sorry that some folks use ball pythons in the way you mentioned but I won't climb on my soapbox just yet on that issue.

	Inclusion Body Disease IBD

[rachel132002]

If you haven't already seen this then melissa kaplins site is pretty good http://www.anapsid.org/ibd.html from what I've read it's a nasty nasty nasty disease to see but if you get a CB boa from a reliable source and quarantine it preferably in a separate room or even better a separate building for 3-6months then you should know i think though having never seen it first hand only hearing about it i can't be too sure but i quarantine all livestock for 3-6months and have 4 boa's and 2 royals with no problems at all.

[louise]

brett the place that sold the infected snake is called..
Mile High Herps (Susan Newman)

[BWSmith]

Boa constrictors can be asymptomatic carriers of Inclusion Body Disease. They may also be symptomatic carriers. It takes quite some time for symptoms to present themselves. Retained sheds, regurgitation, and Respiratory infection are common precursors to IBD. Unfortunately, there is very little known regarding how it is transmitted. Kaplan's article is not bad, despite the fact that she hates herpers. But it is the same information that is regurgitated all over the internet.

I am pleased to say that there are finally methods to test for IBD on living snakes. Of course, none are as simple as a blood test. They can do a dermal, gastric, or liver biopsy to test for Inclusion Bodies. These are not cheap and are generally invasive (aside from the dermal test).

I, personally, believe that IBD is much more prevalent than people think. How many keepers get pathology reports on every snake that dies?

I would say that IBD is something to be cautious about, but not paranoid of. Good quarantine procedures are a must and also good husbandry with a focus of eliminating cross-contamination. My guess is that the most prevalent way that IBD spreads is through feeders. A rat is dangled in front of a boa's mouth or danced around the cage, but the snake doesn't eat it. So that rat is moved on to the next snake. Cost efficient for feeders, but offers a great risk of cross-contamination. I have one feeder per cage, if it is not eaten, then it gets tossed.

Of course, with my current situation, I think my husbandry will border on paranoid for quite some time. I wear Nitrile gloves when working with ANYTHING. Gloves are changed between cages. Tongs are sterilized between animals during feeding. High risk animals have their own equipment and water storage. This gets quite time consuming with 60-70 animals.

	Inclusion Body Disease IBD

[jojo6199]

BW thank you so much for your input during what I am sure is a difficult, stressful time for you. May I say reading your posts on Fauna I am extremely impressed with your handling of this situation. Professionalism like that with all the measures you are taking (and their attendant financial costs, etc.) is something that should be a model for others in this hobby/industry.

I will certainly seek the guidance of experienced boa owners and breeders when the time comes that we are ready to assume the responsibility of our own boa. This is exactly what I was seeking...a responsible, well thought out approach to this issue...not internet hysteria or "cookie cutter" information.

Thank you all!