Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know its contagious to other boas but what about other animals, like cats? Or is it exclusivley a boa and python disease?
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1.0 Columbian (BCI)
0.1 Longicauda (BCL)
0.1 Bolivian (BCA)
0.1 Leucistic Texas Rat Snake

IBD may be able to be carried by reptiles other than boas and pythons, I'm not certain. However, I don't think IBD can be transferred to mammals, or it would be a much larger issue in the pet community as a whole (since people seem to care more about fuzzy critters than reptiles, unfortunately). However, there is still a lot not known about the virus that carries IBD or how exactly it is spread.

The general thought is that IBD is spread for the most part by mites. Since mites in one snake cage are likely to be in a whole collection, mites can carry the virus (since they drink blood) from one snake to another. IBD is not considered to be airborne.

I wouldn't worry about your mammals being infected. However, if a mite bites an infected snake, then bites a mammal, could the mammal CARRY the disease? Say a mite bites an infected snake, then bites a cat. If the cat somehow got in another room, quarantined from the original infected snake, and another mite bit the same cat, then bit a quarantined snake, could the virus live in the cat's system and then migrate to the quarantined snake? Probably unlikely, but I wonder if it is possible. I wish more was known about this nasty disease.

But I don't think mammals can contract IBD, even if exposed to the virus or bacteria that causes it. I'm not a vet or expert of course so am just speculating.
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Lauren Madar
www.ophidiagems.com
1.1 Hog Island Boas
1.1 Hypo BCI
0.1 Sorong-type GTP
1.0 Normal Ball Python
1.1 Surinam BCC