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I have a collection of about 40 snakes and 20 lizards. Last week two of my snakes from the same species died within a period of two days. I took a saliva sample from a different snake because it was very close to their cage and these are the results: Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. What I want to know is your opinion about the situation, should I start injecting all of the animals or only the ones that are showing any signs of sickness or obnormal behavior?
p.s. I didn't take samples from the dead snakes because I didn't have the proper tools to take a sample.
Thank you for your help. Yonatan

That's pretty odd. These are not species of bacteria normally associated with pathology in snakes. Both can be opportunistic pathogens, meaning that they can cause disease in compromised animals, but are not normally associated with primary pathology in snakes.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative rod-type aerobic that is normally found in soil, plants, etc. In humans it causes a viariety of ailments ranging from skin rashes to mammary infections, but once again, usually only in compromised individuals. It is especially prevalent in humans with Cystic Fibrosis.

Enerococcus faecalis (AKA Streptococcus faecalis)is a gram-positive bacteria that is a normal part of the intestinal flora of animals, including humans. It is normally associated with hospital strep outbreaks and can cause a range of disorders in humans. It is also an opportunistic pathogen and normally attacks individuals that have already been compromised by soething else.

Both can be highly resistant to antimicrobial drugs.

Without knowing what the snakes died from, it's hard to tell what you should do. Pseudomonas are found in the animal world causing severe diseases in horses. These are most often aquired by a wound being infected from a contaminated soil or water component in the environment. Pseudomonas are extremely resilent and resistant to antibiotics because of their parasitic nature of growing in molds. They like moist environments and can grow in a wide range of temperatures. I would imagine with herps you would kill the animal before the pseudomonas.

Enterococcus faecalis is a naturally occuring intestinal bacteria. It can cause problems in pigs and spread to people but I know nothing of it in herps.

So I would ask, are you certain about the presence of these? If you are, keep good records and write a paper and publish it.

As far as your collection goes . . . I wouldn't treat an animal that isn't ill. Herps stress quickly and can die just from that as I'm sure you know. Keep the enclosures immaculate. Make sure there isn't any mold growing.

Let us know what happens,
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Since the two snakes died no other snakes have died and no one has shown any signs of sickness. So I decided to treat only snakes that showed signs of the illness instead of stressing them. Thank you for your answer. Hope I won't have any problem requiring the use of this forum. Yonatan

and I hope you don't have to use this forum again.
e