Snake diseases quiz

1

Which of the following are not appropriate for use in the therapy of snake skin mites?

	Pyrethrins and pyrethroids
	Fipronil
	Ivermectin
	Organophosphates
	Water
Please select an option Incorrect Pyrethrins and pyrethroids may be used on snakes as well as the snake environment in the eradication of mites. WikiVet Article:Snake Mites. Incorrect Fipronil is an effective topical acaricide that may last several months with one application. The environment may also be treated. It appears to be safe and effective. WikiVet Article: Snake Mites. Incorrect Ivermectin is an effective acaricide by oral, parenteral or topical administration WikiVet Article: Snake Mites. Correct! Organophosphates (OPs), including trichlorphon and dichlorvos, have been recommended for treating snake mite infestation. However, due to the possible toxicity for both humans and reptiles the use of these products should be discouraged. Wikivet Article: Snake Mites. Incorrect Steam cleaning of the environment is extremely useful since all stages of mites are susceptible to both drowning and high temperatures. Infested snakes find some relief by soaking themselves. Water can therefore be used as a non-toxic adjunct treatment. Affected snakes, especially those that are severely compromised, can benefit from daily soaks of at least one hour. WikiVet Article:Snake Mites.

2

What is the mode of transmission of cryptosporidiosis in snakes?

	Airborne
	Bloodborne
	Contact
	Faecal-oral
	Foodborne
Please select an option Incorrect Non-ophidian reptiles may also be carriers of this disease. WikiVet Article:Snake Cryptosporidiosis. Incorrect Histopathology can establish a positive diagnosis from endoscopic biopsy or surgical biopsy. Negative histology does not rule out cryptosporidiosis because of the non-uniform distribution of cryptosporidia. WikiVet Article: Snake Cryptosporidiosis. Incorrect Young and immunocompromised snakes are most commonly affected by cryptosporidiosis. It is often seen in recently imported or captured snakes since these are usually highly stressed. WikiVet Article: Cryptosporidiosis. Correct! Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoa of the phylum Apicomplexa and commonly cause gastrointestinal disease in animals. Cryptosporidium serpentis infection in snakes causes gastric hypertrophy and consequent clinical signs. Wikivet Article: Snake Cryptosporidiosis. Incorrect! Limiting stressors and maintaining good hygiene will decrease the spread of cryptosporidiosis. WikiVet Article:Snake Cryptosporidiosis.

3

A snake is presented with lethargy and anorexia, and physical examination reveals a swelling in the caudal third of the coloemic cavity. You suspect kidney failure. How would you diagnose this?

	Biochemistry including urea, creatinine and uric acid
	Biochemistry including calcium, phosphorus and uric acid
	Kidney biopsy
	Radiology
	Urinalysis
Please select an option Incorrect Urea and creatinine are not useful in the diagnosis of renal disease in snakes. Uric acid is not a sensitive or specific indicator. WikiVet Article: Lizard and Snake Renal Disease. Incorrect Blood evaluation would be a logical step in this case, but levels of plasma biochemistry parameters are not diagnostic until the disease is advanced. WikiVet Article: Lizard and Snake Renal Disease. Correct! Diagnosis of kidney failure in reptiles can be a problem for the veterinarian since non-invasive techniques may not be helpful. Kidney biopsy is the definitive diagnosis for renal failure. WikiVet Article: Lizard and Snake Renal Disease. Incorrect Poor contrast in the caudal abdomen may hamper detection of nephromegaly and so radiology is not considered a definitive diagnostic tool for kidney failure Wikivet Article: Lizard and Snake Renal Disease. Incorrect Urinalysis is not useful in snakes since urine is modified in the distal colon and cloaca. WikiVet Article:Lizard and Snake Renal Disease.

4

A milk snake is presented for open mouthed breathing. The diagnostic aids that you employ include bacteriology and endoscopic biopsy. Bacteriology reveals a mixed Gram-negative infection and histology diagnoses a suppurative pneumonia. What underlying cause would you suspect?

	Decreased immunocompetence due to poor husbandry
	Contagious bacterial infection
	Inclusion Body Disease
	Ophidian Paramyxovirus
	Ulcerative stomatitis
Please select an option Correct! The most common reason for respiratory tract infections is decreased immunocompetance due to poor husbandry. WikiVet Article: Snake Respiratory Disease. Incorrect Primary bacterial infections are possible but they are less common than secondary infections. WikiVet Article: Snake Respiratory Disease. Incorrect IBD is a disease of Boidae and although secondary bacterial infections are often observed, rugurgitation and CNS signs are the common clinical signs associated with this disease. WikiVet Article: Inclusion Body Disease. Incorrect Bacterial infections are often secondary to OPMV infection but this is more likely to be seen in Viperidae. Wikivet Article: Ophidian Paramyxovirus. Incorrect Ulcerative stomatitis is the most common form of upper alimentary tract disease in reptiles. In snakes stomatitis is a very common multifactorial condition. Infectious agents generally are Gram-negative bacteria. However, stomatitis is usually secondary to stressors such as poor environmental conditions and malnutrition. WikiVet Article:Lizard and Snake Ulcerative Stomatitis.

4

A lizard is presenting several clinical signs of MBD: lethargy and reluctance to move, difficulty in lifting body off ground, ataxia, anorexia and weight loss, and swelling of soft mandibles. How do you confirm this diagnosis?