Introduction: Inclusion body disease (IBD) is a common viral disease of captive boids. IBD is caused by an arenavirus transmitted by the mite Ophionyssus natrics. IBD signs are frequently mild to inapparent until the onset of CNS lesions that result in inability to feed. Materials and Methods: A male, adult Boa constrictor imperator, introduced into a collection of seven boids 2 years earlier, developed depression, dysphagia and dysecdysis rapidly extending to 90% of the body with multifocal ulceration. Because of the poor prognosis the snake was humanely destroyed. Results: Grossly, ulcerations covered 60% of the lateral axial skin and extended to oral and gastric mucosa. Subcutaneous, pulmonary, serosal haemorrhages and haemocoelom were observed. Microscopically, necrotizing and ulcerative dermatitis and gastritis with bacteria were confirmed. Cutaneous, gastric and serosal vessels revealed endothelial cell swelling and necrosis, with numerous intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies consistent with IBD. Elevated numbers of viral inclusions were observed in liver, kidneys, retina, skin keratinocytes and stomach. Following humane destruction of all seven snakes, 4/7 were identified as having IBD inclusions. Conclusions: IBD lesions in this boid were severe and unusual (retinal, vascular inclusions). This appears to be the first report of IBD necrotizing vascular lesions. IBD is associated with long incubation and mild lesions, including cytoplasmic inclusions in the liver, kidneys, airways and intestines, and the terminal development of lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis. Noteworthy, mammalian arenaviruses (Junin virus and Machupo virus) cause necro-hemorrhagic lesions. Possibly, the necrotizing vascular lesions resulted from direct cytolytic effects of a more aggressive IBD arenavirus strain in an immunocompromised host.

Inclusion body disease-associated necrotizing vascular lesions in a boa constrictor imperator / M. Tecilla, P. Roccabianca. - In: JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY. - ISSN 0021-9975. - 158:(2018 Jan), pp. 145-145. ((Intervento presentato al 3. convegno Proceedings of the Joint European Congress of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology, European Society of Toxicologic Pathology and European College of Veterinary Pathologists 35th Meeting of the European Society of Veterinary Pathology, 15th Meeting of the European Society of Toxicologic Pathology and the 28th Meeting of the European College of Veterinary Pathologists tenutosi a Lyon (France) nel 2017 [10.1016/j.jcpa.2017.10.158].

Inclusion body disease-associated necrotizing vascular lesions in a boa constrictor imperator

M. Tecilla
Primo
;
P. Roccabianca
Ultimo
2018

Abstract

Introduction: Inclusion body disease (IBD) is a common viral disease of captive boids. IBD is caused by an arenavirus transmitted by the mite Ophionyssus natrics. IBD signs are frequently mild to inapparent until the onset of CNS lesions that result in inability to feed. Materials and Methods: A male, adult Boa constrictor imperator, introduced into a collection of seven boids 2 years earlier, developed depression, dysphagia and dysecdysis rapidly extending to 90% of the body with multifocal ulceration. Because of the poor prognosis the snake was humanely destroyed. Results: Grossly, ulcerations covered 60% of the lateral axial skin and extended to oral and gastric mucosa. Subcutaneous, pulmonary, serosal haemorrhages and haemocoelom were observed. Microscopically, necrotizing and ulcerative dermatitis and gastritis with bacteria were confirmed. Cutaneous, gastric and serosal vessels revealed endothelial cell swelling and necrosis, with numerous intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies consistent with IBD. Elevated numbers of viral inclusions were observed in liver, kidneys, retina, skin keratinocytes and stomach. Following humane destruction of all seven snakes, 4/7 were identified as having IBD inclusions. Conclusions: IBD lesions in this boid were severe and unusual (retinal, vascular inclusions). This appears to be the first report of IBD necrotizing vascular lesions. IBD is associated with long incubation and mild lesions, including cytoplasmic inclusions in the liver, kidneys, airways and intestines, and the terminal development of lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis. Noteworthy, mammalian arenaviruses (Junin virus and Machupo virus) cause necro-hemorrhagic lesions. Possibly, the necrotizing vascular lesions resulted from direct cytolytic effects of a more aggressive IBD arenavirus strain in an immunocompromised host.
Settore VET/03 - Patologia Generale e Anatomia Patologica Veterinaria
gen-2018
European Society of Veterinary Pathology
European Society of Toxicologic Pathology
European College of Veterinary Pathologists
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/571175
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