For those that don't know what happened -- Respiratory Virus in Ball Pythons

[KelliH]

Well I just came across this and am pretty glad I did. I brought 3 snakes from him at a expo the year defore last and as soon as they shed the infection showed up(he had about 30 females he was selling). I lost them and two more. I had taken them to the vet and spent lots of money but with no luck. But lucky for me I had separated them when the signs showed up. He was at an expo about 4 months ago and his collection had dropped, don't know if he sold or they had died. I just hope that this doesn't spread it is very bad and when I see him again I can now confront him. Thanks for the info!

Roy, can you please go to the BOI thread entitled "Texas Herp Community" and post what show you saw Wyatt vending at? Did you see him yourself and are you positive it was him?

 

[hupababy_83]

Can this be transmitted to ALL reptiles? BP, RTB, geckos, etc etc etc? Or just certain species? Or is it unknown do to lack of research? Any cure, vaccination, treatment? This is scary!

I am sorry for your loss and pain. I cried for your loss, and couldn't breathe ay the thought of the unknown casualties, affected, sold infected! Thank you for informing us and the education.

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

Can this be transmitted to ALL reptiles? BP, RTB, geckos, etc etc etc? Or just certain species? Or is it unknown do to lack of research? Any cure, vaccination, treatment?

There is no cure, treatment, or vaccination. We tried a lot of different things -- every antibiotic that can be used on snakes, multiple anti-virals including Interferon, and even got a special FDA permit to import Colombovac, which is a vaccine used in Europe for birds to prevent them from contracting Ophidian Paramyxovirus. Birds are very closely related to reptiles and so was this virus related to PMV, so we thought it would be worth a shot. It failed.

I also kept 2 cornsnakes, about 6 kingsnakes, and 2 rainbow boas at the time. None of them showed any signs of infection whatsoever. But to be safe, they were put down with the ball pythons.

 

[hupababy_83]

Oh darn! This sucks! So far I have read of 3 outbreaks of this sh*tty sh*t virus, have there been more?

 

[Lynn]

Well I just came across this and am pretty glad I did. I brought 3 snakes from him at a expo the year defore last and as soon as they shed the infection showed up(he had about 30 females he was selling). I lost them and two more. I had taken them to the vet and spent lots of money but with no luck. But lucky for me I had separated them when the signs showed up. He was at an expo about 4 months ago and his collection had dropped, don't know if he sold or they had died. I just hope that this doesn't spread it is very bad and when I see him again I can now confront him. Thanks for the info!

are you sure that was Wyatt.. He has not been at any shows that I know of as a vendor for 3 or more years..

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

Updated list of victims that also suffered the same outcome or similar, due to the same cause (respiratory virus):

Jennifer Harrison -- Madison, WI -- Virus
Dr. Jason Brodnik, DVM -- Northglenn, CO -- Virus
Michael Ogburn -- Heathsville, VA -- Virus
Joe Ellis -- Virginia Beach, VA -- Stolen Animals (through a breeding loan with the seller that spread the virus -- the animals died of "unknown" causes while in his care)
Tim Bowles -- Unknown -- Virus
Matt Lehrer -- Florida -- Virus (purchased from Tim before the connection was made to the virus and to the source)
Roy Sample -- Dallas, TX -- Virus

 

[JoeEllisReptiles]

I am so sorry for everyone's loss due to this virus. If anyone on the above list is trying to get back into the hobby I would be willing to help out as much as I can. What other info is known about this Virus?

Joe Ellis

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

Only reason I mentioned the list above is that there were other people that lost animals to this virus as well, possibly including you while they were in someone else's possession. It demonstrates that it was not a one-time issue and that is is very likely still out there. It's important that people know.

Unfortunately other than what is contained in my first post, there is nothing else known. All research on it was stopped due to lack of funding. I wish there had been more answers, because it left everything open-ended for me.

 

[Matt2979]

Jen, are you saying that all of these people have/had the virus in their collections?? Or were just directly effected by it?

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

Directly affected by it (except Joe, who was indirectly affected by it). I have all the posts/e-mails that confirm each one.

 

[Matt2979]

Directly affected by it (except Joe, who was indirectly affected by it). I have all the posts/e-mails that confirm each one.

My question was not asking you to prove it....although, had your answer been different, I'm sure I would have. No, you just gave me a heart attack because I bought an animal from one of these breeders last summer and it's been out of quarantine for a couple of months....in my snake room with LOTS of animals! ...Ok...I think I can breathe now!

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

Matt Lehrer never had the infected snakes within his collection. They went into separate quarantine and then went to his vet shortly after recieving them, where it was confirmed that they were indeed sick and likely infected with paramyxovirus. He euthanized them on the spot. I have no idea what the full chain of events was for Tim Bowles, or if his collection was ever exposed, but I do know the animal appeared fine for a little while then got sick and died, which is when his connection to the same virus was brought forward.

 

[Matt2979]

Joe Ellis is who I was referring to. Sounds as though his animal(s) died in someone else's care so it was never in his snake room, either.

 

[deborahbroadus]

Joe Ellis is who I was referring to. Sounds as though his animal(s) died in someone else's care so it was never in his snake room, either.

I have never purchased any animals from Mr. Ellis, but that's the way I read it, too.

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

Joe Ellis is who I was referring to. Sounds as though his animal(s) died in someone else's care so it was never in his snake room, either.

That's why I said he was affected indirectly. His animals were lent to the seller on breeding loan before the virus came to light, and they were never returned. Then it was discovered that they had died within his care, after multiple people had come forward with losses due to this virus stemming from him.

 

[Matt2979]

That's why I said he was affected indirectly. His animals were lent to the seller on breeding loan before the virus came to light, and they were never returned. Then it was discovered that they had died within his care, after multiple people had come forward with losses due to this virus stemming from him.

Thanks for the clarification, as I was getting ready to go put myself in the freezer (would be a lot easier than having to put my animals in there!!).

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

Thanks for the clarification, as I was getting ready to go put myself in the freezer (would be a lot easier than having to put my animals in there!!).

LMFAO!

"You have given out too much karma in the last 24 hours, try again later."

Sorry Matt. Remind me to give you karma for that post.

 

[deborahbroadus]

Thanks for the clarification, as I was getting ready to go put myself in the freezer (would be a lot easier than having to put my animals in there!!).

I feel you, there!

 

[Casey Hulse]

It may have been brought up already, but I saw Damian Wyatt (I believe) on an episode of Dirty Jobs a year or 2 ago. He bought a Reptile Museum type thing, (in Florida maybe??) Does anyone know why he and Eric Trajer split up?

 

[Pink Lady Exotics]

It may have been brought up already, but I saw Damian Wyatt (I believe) on an episode of Dirty Jobs a year or 2 ago. He bought a Reptile Museum type thing, (in Florida maybe??) Does anyone know why he and Eric Trajer split up?

Not sure, but this is a BOI topic. Harald already said this thread is borderline, and I don't want to risk it being closed.