Diagnostic Testing Service
Inclusion Body Disease (IBD), Arenaviruses
Specimen type
Blood
Feces
ocular/nasal secretion
Contents
- Inclusion body disease (IBD) is a significant viral infection in snakes, primarily affecting boas and pythons. It is caused by an arenavirus and is characterized by the formation of intracytoplasmic inclusions, which are abnormal protein materials within normal cells.
- Boas are considered typical hosts for the virus, as many are infected and can carry it for months to years with few or no clinical signs. Early symptoms, which may be triggered by factors causing immunosuppression, include a history of poor growth, anorexia, weight loss, secondary bacterial infections, poor wound healing, dysecdysis, and regurgitation.
