| dc.description.abstract | Background: The ball python (Python regius Shaw, 1802) is one of the most
popular pet snake species. However, there is very limited literature available on
causes of mortality. Specific cases are described in cases of viral origin where
nidovirus has been identified as the cause of death. Against the background of
pneumonia, Mycoplasma agassizii has also been described.
Materials and Methods: In our work, we investigated the causes of mortality
of ball pythons dissected between 1998 and 2023 by involving 32 carcasses.
Results and Discussion: The sex ratio of the carcasses was 1:1. Most of the 12
snake individuals were less than one year old. The 2–5-year-old age group also
included 14 snakes, while the rest (6 specimens) were older than 6 years. In our
study the lesions were diagnosed in 39% of the digestive organs, 23% of the
respiratory tract, 13% of the excretory organs and another 3-3% of the lesions of
the genitals, the skin and adipose tissue were found. In 16% of cases, multi-organ system disorders were observed. In terms of the nature of the causes, 62%
were infectious and 38% non- infectious in origin. Amongst bacteria Aeromonas
hydrophila (37%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (37%) and 13-13% of Mycobacterium sp.
and Mycoplasma sp. were the causative agents. Common lesions were enteritis,
stomatitis, pneumonia and uricosis. | en_US |
