Linda, Boy do you really bring up some very important issues. You opened up the Pandora Box mentioning something like the ethical issues of having animals tested. I would love to type everything I have learned on IBD since having my FIRST necropsy and Biopsy done in 1996. Boy did I spend a lot of Time, money and brain power going over all options.

I have also put down a few animals and babies just for the benefit of the litters. I know this sounds awful, but it really is in the best interest of the whole collection to have a few babies test. Gaylynn Carter (My assistant and manager) especially hates it because she has a great love for EVERY snake, and it is hard for her to put a snake down. So, I have to be the "Bad Guy" when it comes to this. LOL

To prevent another NOVEL by me, I would like to point out just a few things.


After speaking with Scott Stahl (THE BEST REPTILE VET in the WORLD) I have come to the conclusion that it really isn't in my best interest to have EVERY SINGLE animal tested with a Biopsy. There are reasons that make it impossible for you to really know, and even if INCLUSION BODY cells are found, that doesn't mean that it is an A Symptomatic Carriers. Inclusions can be found in Many Cells of Boas, and I have had some pretty good reason why I wouldn’t even think about doing that Linda, but I promised this wouldn’t be a novel. I’ll try to get in touch with you because I haven’t got replies from your emails.

I know this may sound unethical, however, IF IBD was a serious problem, it would have wiped out collections that are large. It hasn’t done that at ALL. If you practice SOUND husbandry, and pay attention to all the breeding animals, it would be quite easy to ISOLATE the cause and eliminate it. That Is exactly what I do, and I can vouch that is what a few other Larger Breeders of Boas do.

There are also some really good tests that throw out the theory if this really being a RETROVIRUS. In order to Prove this, would cost ½ a Million alone, with no guarantee of Answers. Just my opinion.

If you deal with Live animals you really have to assume that many can get sick. IBD is commonly MIS Diagnosed because the animal dies from other causes, and Inclusion Body Cells are found. Therefore it is diagnosed as IBD, when it could easily be something else. It takes a lot of money to get a Guarantee that it was the IBD VIRUS that killed the animal. That is why it is important to KNOW the source of your animals. That source should guarantee that the animals were kept with good husbandry practices.

Food for Thought. Jeremy Stone

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