title: Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in a collection of captive snakes and response to treatment with marbofloxacin.
abstract: In a collection of 58 snakes comprising predominantly Eurasian vipers in Switzerland, five snakes died unexpectedly during hibernation from 2009 to 2012. In one snake, organisms resembling chlamydiae were detected by immunohistochemistry in multiple histiocytic granulomas. Real-time quantitative PCR and microarray analysis were used to determine the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in tissue samples and cloacal/choanal swabs from snakes in the collection; 8/53 (15.1%) of the remaining snakes were positive. Although one infected snake had suppurative periglossitis, infection with C. pneumoniae did not appear to be associated with specific clinical signs in snakes. Of seven snakes treated with 5 mg/kg marbofloxacin IM once daily, five became PCR negative for C. pneumoniae following treatment, whereas one animal remained positive and one snake was lost to follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Section of Veterinary Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 270, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: srueegg@vetclinics.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rüegg
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Regenscheit
authors.affiliation: Centre of Fish and Wildlife Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Origgi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 268, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 268, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012911:Snakes / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; C080260:marbofloxacin
keywords: Chlamydia pneumoniae; Diagnosis; Marbofloxacin; Snake; Treatment