Title
Infectious disease serologic survey in free-ranging Venezuelan anacondas (Eunectes murinus)
Author(s)
Calle P.P., Rivas J., Munoz M., Thorbjarnarson J., Holmstrom W., Karesh W.B.
Published
2001
Publisher
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Abstract
Reptiles can harbor pathogenic microorganisms asymptomatically and serve as potential reservoirs of infection for humans, domestic animals, and other reptiles. Infectious diseases are also problematic for free-ranging reptile populations and are an important consideration in reptile reintroduction and translocation projects. There have been limited serologic studies of free-ranging reptiles for evidence of exposure to potential pathogens. In the present study, serum or plasma samples from five male and five female free-ranging Venezuelan anacondas (Eunectes murinus) were screened for antibodies to eastern, western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses, vesicular stomatitis virus, ophidian paramyxovirus, 19 Leptospira interrogans serovars, and Cryptosporidium serpentes. Antibodies to these agents were not detected, or antibody titers were low and possibly nonspecific. These results for the limited number of anacondas surveyed suggest that they do not serve as significant reservoirs for these infectious agents at this location.
Keywords
bacterium antibody; protozoon antibody; virus antibody; animal; animal disease; article; blood; communicable disease; Cryptosporidium; disease carrier; encephalomyelitis; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; female; hemagglutination inhibition test; immunology; Leptospira interrogans; male; snake; Venezuela; Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis alphavirus; Vesicular stomatitis virus; wild animal; Animals; Animals, Wild; Antibodies, Bacterial; Antibodies, Protozoan; Antibodies, Viral; Boidae; Communicable Diseases; Cryptosporidium; Disease Reservoirs; Encephalitis Virus, Venezuelan Equine; Encephalomyelitis, Eastern Equine; Encephalomyelitis, Western Equine; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; Leptospira interrogans; Male; Venezuela; Vesicular stomatitis-Indiana virus

Access Full Text

A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the WCS Library to request.



Back

PUB12607