Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have any experience with Thrush in snakes???

My female BRB's throat swab just came back positive for budding yeast.

Thanks.
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Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon

Crap, I hate fungal infections. You might as well ask for a blood culture, as if this has become systemic, then it's big trouble. Ask the vet to consider systemic antifungals, as well as local treatment. Visit the rainbow boa forum to see how they combat it with husbandry changes. I know these guys are wickedly prone to fungal problems, and even some of the best keepers cannot keep it under control.

Ian

ps, I guess I was assuming the throat swab was done in response to a problem? If the snake is currently asymptomatic, then skip my suggestions and concentrate on husbandry perfection as a pre-emptive strike.

I've had her for just under two weeks.
She came to me 13 days ago with a wheeze. I attributed it to stress from transit and improper humidity while on the road, but after a week in proper conditions (humidity around 75-78%), she still hadn't improved.

I took her for a general check-up, suspecting a bacterial RI and hoping to get her a dose of antibiotics, but the vet found the yeast on her swab along with elevated bacterial levels, and he doesn't want to do anything until he rules out parasites. I haven't been able to supply him with a fecal sample yet, (Her only poop since she's been here was right after she came), so it's all rather frustrating.

It's likely fungal pnemonia, and my best guess is that it's secondary... but I haven't been able to find much in the way of information on the affliction in snakes specifically.

Thanks for your help.
-----
Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon

Along with a fecal, a lung wash might be a good idea to perform to rule out respiratory parasites that could be contributing to a secondary fungal infection.

Whereas species like Rhabdias sp. (lungworm) are respiratory but can be diagnosed by a fecal because larvae can be found in fresh stool, this is not the case for all respiratory parasites. A trematode (fluke) or pentastomid (tongueworm, which are actually arthropods) infection may not always appear in the feces, as well.

If the risk of further traumatizing the respiratory tract is too great (it's probably very irritated and painful as is), the vet might not want to try this technique for diagnosis.

Christina
www.herptiles.net

I agree, too much emphasis is placed on fecals for parasitic diagnostics. The truth is, they really ain't that great. An X-ray can be done to assess lung clarity, and some of the lungworms can actually been seen this way. I don't know why the hesitation for treatment though. If the swab is crawling with crap, treating it is still needed whether it's secondary to parasites or not.

Why do vets have to take vacations, don't they know we need them

Ian

He's actually suggested I have a lung scope done.... he's also just informed me that the amount of yeast he found in her culture is apparently normal.

It took four days to find this out?

I'm very frustrated at this point. As of today, he's reccomended a shot of Baytril and blood work to determine the extent of the infection.

I'm almost tempted to seek another opinion.
-----
Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon

Pardon my confusion... but what?

The vet wants to do one shot of Baytril, or a course of Baytril shots?

One shot won't do anything productive. If anything, it might encourage more resistent bacteria.

Have you looked at the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians website at www.arav.org for an experienced herp vet? Personally I'd want another opinion...

Christina
www.herptiles.net

He's corresponding via e-mail at the moment, and that is the phrasing he used.
I'm assuming he MEANT a course. I've never heard of giving -a- shot or -one- oral form of ANY antibiotic.

Thank you for the database, he's actually on there... but the second herp vet in the area isn't.
-----
Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon