title: Diphtheroid colitis in a Boa constrictor infected with amphibian Entamoeba sp.
abstract: A female boa (Boa constrictor) from a zoological collection was submitted for necropsy after sudden death. Prominent pathological findings included a diphtheroid colitis, endoparasitism, focal pneumonia and inclusion bodies typical for inclusion body disease (IBD). In the colon entamoebae were identified, which differed in size and distribution from Entamoeba invadens. Gene sequence analysis of the 18S ribosomal RNA revealed 100% similarity with an Entamoeba species from the African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus), probably Entamoeba ranarum. The snake was possibly immunosuppressed, and the source of infection remains unclear. This is the first report of an infection with an amphibian Entamoeba species associated with colitis in a snake.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kübber-Heiss
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weissenböck
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000469:parasitology*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017821:Boidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D003092:Colitis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003106:Colon / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan