Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is there any known treatment known yet for this problem?

I haven't heard anything yet. I don't think so since it's a virus.

Have you ever had any problems? If so, "How did you deal with them"?

Have I ever had any problems with IBD? No. But I do have problems with respiratory infections. My pastel and my normal have gone through Baytril and Amikacin and they still have a little bit of spit in their mouth and a small clicking noise. But they are eating, gaining weight, the temps are good, I guess I just have to let them fight off that little bit of the infection that is left Besides, I've done all that I can with the antibiotics and it brought them up about 90%. I suppose I have to think of them in nature, if they get a little sick, they have to be able to fight it off somehow or else there would be no ball pythons! Are you having trouble with IBD?

Unfortunately, no -- There is no known cure. It's like rabies... 0 fatality rate. And it's HIGHLY contagious.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

Apparently Kingsnake doesn't like percents. That little weird sign was supposed to be "one hundred percent," ie. IBD has a one-hundred percent fatality rate.
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Cheers!
• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
(and Frank M. Wood)

An infected Boa constrictor can carry the virus and be asyptomatic and infect others, in pythons like you said it as far as I have read 100 percent.

>>Apparently Kingsnake doesn't like percents. That little weird sign was supposed to be "one hundred percent," ie. IBD has a one-hundred percent fatality rate.
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>>Cheers!
>>• Chelsea Lynn Gardiner
>>(and Frank M. Wood)

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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

I feel that it's MORE unfortunate that boas can live with it. At least with ball pythons if they live through a good quarantine you know they don't have IBD. I don't know how a boa breeder would go about bringing in any new animals.

I've heard of some people using ball pythons as test animals when they get a new boa. House a known healthy ball in with the boa for a few months and see what happens. Sucks if you're a ball python but if it could save an entire boa collection at the cost of only 1 ball, I'd say it's worth it. I myself only buy baby boas. While I know a baby boa can carry IBD, I don't think their immune system is strong enough to fight it. I also quarantine boas for a looooooooong time. Since they're babies anyway, there's no hurry to introduce them to any others.

I'll have to look for the info but I believe there is a blood test for it.
Ah, I found it. http://www.anapsid.org/ibd.html
I will be checking with my vet on this as I have a boa and just took in two very nice Ball Pythons.
Later
John

I noticed that page was from 1995. I think my vet did some study using biopsies (can't remember if liver or pancreas) since then so maybe there where some problems with just a blood test.