An infectious episode of embryonic death to pregnant vipers in captivity

Abstract

Vipers bred in captivity for economic benefits or recreational request, primarily, strict conditions for microclimate. Its disruption in accommodation spaces can enable opportunistic pathogens, with major consequences. One such episode occurred in a farm of vipers in Iasi, with a reduced livestock of vipers that survived in conditions apparently own for their growth and development. All pregnant vipers and youth from livestock initially had breathing problems. The livestock held 20 adult vipers of which 10 (50%) were pregnant. Of these, five vipers had a general state of advanced disease. It disposed their slaughter in order to establish a diagnosis. On necropsy examination, all pregnant females had in the embryo sac and in different proportions, dead young, young stopped from embryonic development and rarely live young. Samples were taken from the living and dead embryos, and from organs. Following microbiological examination was isolated in pure culture and identified on the basis of cultural, morphological, biochemical and pathogenicity, Enterobacter cloaceae species. Sensitivity to variations in microclimates and decreased immunity to pregnant vipers allowed multiplication and action of Enterobacter cloaceae species, an opportunistic pathogen responsible for various infections in reptiles, fish and numerous mammals.