11/03/2024
Such good info, please have a read if you’re thinking of adding any new reptiles to your collection!
With the next Brisbane Reptile Expo 2024 coming up very quickly, we wanted to reshare this information about the importance of quarantine and testing that we put together last year.
There are a growing number of viruses within captive collections that can have detrimental immediate and long-term consequences within existing collections if newly acquired animals are not effectively quarantined and if virus testing is not conducted.
Most of these viruses cause dreadful side effects, have no cure, are extremely contagious and do not have any specific treatment options.
Many of these viruses can silently infect entire collections quickly without any animals
showing signs of illness and can remain dormant for years before detection if initial quarantine and testing is not undertaken. This includes animals from “big” or “reputable” breeders, with some of these viruses present because people assume bigger, more popular breeders are immune.
Below is a list of alarming and incurable viruses that are more frequently being found in Australian Pythons and Lizards and information on effective quarantine practices.
Snake Specific Viruses
Bornavirus
Bornavirus is one of the hardest to detect in its early stages and results in encephalitis
(inflammation of the brain tissue)
Sunshinevirus
Sunshinevirus can cause both neurological and respiratory disease and is often
misdiagnosed as a respiratory infection if virus testing is not undertaken.
Nidovirus
Nidovirus is often associated with inflammation of mucous membranes and respiratory
disease.
Lizard Specific Viruses
Shingleback Nidovirus 1
Also referred to as “Bobtail Flu”, Shingleback Nidovirus causes infection in Shingleback
and Blue Tongue Lizards. It causes respiratory disease.
Adenovirus
Adenovirus causes severe liver disease that can present in neurological symptoms,
lethargy or sudden death.
Quarantine Practices for Reptile Collections
What is quarantine?
Whether it is a group of reptiles or a group of people, the concept of quarantine is the same. The goal is to separate and stop the movement of individuals that have been exposed to or may have potentially been exposed to pathogens, to see if they become
sick before they are mixed with the general population.
This means that once an animal or group of animals is quarantined, no new animals should be added to that area. Each individual animal being added to the collection should be quarantined in their own isolated space.
Setting up a quarantine area
The most effective way to set up a quarantine area is to keep the individual(s) concerned in a completely different space. This may seem a little daunting to private keepers with limited resources. If a separate location is not available, an area as far as possible from the main collection is recommended, with no shared air space or equipment.
Anyone from outside (like a friend or fellow keeper) entering the area should not have had prior contact with any other reptiles, and all materials (paper towel, f10 bottle, tongs, hooks) should be kept with the quarantined animal and not used for any other purpose aside from managing the individual(s) in quarantine.
PPE such as gloves should be worn, and the correct disinfecting and hand washing procedures should be practiced.
If other animals require attending to, this should be done prior to having anything to do
with the quarantined animals. Proper precautions such as showering and changing clothes between rooms or locations as well as a disinfectant footwear wash upon entering and leaving the space should also be considered.
How Should I set up My Quarantine Area?
Use enclosures or tubs that are simple to clean and which have minimal fomites. A fomite is any object that can be contaminated and potentially aid in the spread of infection.
Where possible, use items that are disposable (i.e. hides, feed bowls, water bowls). Non-porous materials such as those made from plastic are ideal as they are easier to clean and disinfect if they become soiled with faeces or urates. Use an easy to clean, sanitary substrate such as paper towel or butchers paper.
A disinfectant that works on all manner of infectious organisms is recommended. The choice should be based on the efficacy, ease of use and safety profile. F10 is the most recommended product due to the ability to disinfect against the majority of viruses,
fungi, bacteria and some protozoa commonly encountered in reptile veterinary practices
It is important to thoroughly clean an area prior to using disinfectant, as organic material
such as, faeces, urates and foodstuffs renders them ineffective. It is also important to carefully follow the instructions for dilution and use to ensure effectiveness of the product.
Any second-hand enclosures should be completely stripped and washed with a diluted bleach solution, left to dry, and then followed up with f10. The use of second-hand enclosures comes with the risk of infection to your collection.
How Long Should I Quarantine My Reptile?
The answer for this varies based on the reason for quarantine. Some infectious diseases can go for long periods of time without showing clinical signs. For some conditions, such as mites, a quarantine period of 90 days will be sufficient to allow the keeper to observe for signs of infestation before introducing the reptile into the general population. The
general recommended period of quarantine for a new reptile is 6-12 months.
But unfortunately, other viruses that can take years to cause visible illness.
For example, there are cases of Sunshine virus and Bornavirus in snakes and cases of Agamid
Adenovirus in some lizards, where individuals have been testing positive for years without
showing any signs of disease. This means that they can be spreading disease for prolonged periods without showing any effects. Therefore, it is imperative that you have testing performed on the reptile prior to them leaving a quarantine situation, ideally upon entry and then 6 months later, some vets recommend 3 tests total.
Other Considerations
• Ensure that your quarantine area is not used for any other purpose. Increased human traffic in and out of the area generates risk of unintentional cross
contamination.
• Keep the area locked if possible, or closed off at a bare minimum
• Ensure everyone who inhabits the space where quarantine is taking place is
aware of and following effective quarantine measures.
• Keep in mind that allowing other keepers to view your collection generates risk of
infection.
• Buying a reptile from a pet shop or open collection comes with its own set of risks.
Finding a reputable breeder with a closed collection or effective off site quarantine practices is recommended.
