OPMV strikes yet again.

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:09 am Post subject: OPMV strikes yet again.

Hey All,

About 2 weeks ago i had a diamond go down hill very quickly and started showing neurological signs.
I took it to Mark Simpson and it was decided to put her down and send her off for tests.
The results came back last night at 6pm, confirmed OPMV.

I had the diamond for a bit over 10 months.

I have since contacted everyone who has brought snakes from me since i had the diamond and warned them.
I will no longer be trading in reptiles with the exception of some lizards.
It's taken me many years and many thousands of dollars to get my collection where it is and to basically lose everything like this is crushing to say the least.

The main reason for me posting this is to stop any rumors or BS that would spread around and also to warn people about OPMV again. If anyone wants to know anything feel free to ask me.

If you are not using F10 disinfectant START USING IT NOW. If you are not quarantining everything for 12 months START DOING IT.

Don't let others handle your snakes, don't let your snakes come into contact with snakes outside of your collection, this includes, shows, meetings, expos etc.

To make things even harder this what we woke up to this morning. My adult female bredli is certain to have it now and will have to be put down. She was house next to the diamonds cage.
This won't stop me keeping reptiles but it's going to be a long time until i have snakes again, i am moving house in March and i won't be taking any of this with me. All snakes, cages and equipment will be gone before i move so that when i do i know i am clear of this.

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Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:23 am Post subject:

I just wanted to add, a while ago I posted on various forums and mentioned we were locking down and had for the last 6 months, not buying anyting because there have been numerous outbreaks in our area and we were concerned about bringing anything in.

I was told then that I was being panicked about it, that there was no need for that and if proper quarantine practises were taken place it would be okay.

We did quarantine, we were careful, washing our hands between snakes, etc.

We panicked and were being too careful according to most people - BUT WE STILL GOT IT.

We have a large collection and this is absolutely devastating. The only way we will know we are free is to get rid of everything as we can never be sure now if anything that doesn't get sick will be a carrier.

This has been a part of Steve's life since he was 6, for him it is like losing children.

I've read over the last few months about many snakes dying, and there was no apparent reason for it. A very small percentage of these snakes were autopsied. Due to the cost, I can understand why, but with all these unexplained deaths I don't doubt that it is in many more collections that people think. Just see all the snakes that get respiratory infections which is one of the signs of it. Some just die with no symptoms and can still have it.

People are still taking snakes out to friends' houses, taking them to meetings, letting other herpers handle their collections, and most alarmingly doing breeding loans. The snake that we had autopsied we have well over six months, and it had shown no signs in that time.

Don't let it happen to you.

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:24 am Post subject:

im sorry to hear about your snakes steve Sad

i will use your advice greatly

thanks
jacob

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:31 am Post subject:

Steve & Naomi, im very sorry to hear that this has happened to you both, and i cant begin to imagine how you must be feeling at the moment. Its a shame when OPMV strikes and i just hope that in the near future we can find a cure to iradicate this from the herp population

Cheers Jayson

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:40 am Post subject:

This is really sad news Steve and Naomi, i truely feel for you guys.

I feel that nobody can be too carefull, everybody is at risk from OPMV. A lot of people dont get sick animals checked out or autopsied at death as we all know, at my place I treat every herp death I hear about as possible opmv. Lots of people have called me paranoid, the reason being is that I've seen this firsthand in 2001/2002. I sure don't think i'm being parranoid.

Several people on several forums have openly told people not to panick, not to treat any sign as possible opmv, that lots of other things can be the reason for pythons falling off their pirches.. To these people I say pull your heads out of your bums, this is real, it's been happening for years.

IN MY OPINION THINGS ARE GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GET BETTER. Every state in Australia now faces this problem.

It's real bad news for me to hear Steve and Naomi are going through this, i know them both well. they have been friends of mine for quite some time, it's devistating

Shane

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:41 am Post subject:

Tragic news, ive got alot of respect for the people who have the guts to come forward.

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:03 am Post subject:

This is a tragic disease and it does effect everyone, even if you don't have it, there is bound to be someone at some point that will have it that you do know, it is a nasty disease, and as shane said i think things will get worse before they get better.

i'm so sorry to hear this steve and nome, can't begin to think of what you are going through at the moment.

The key to this is quarantine, and with strict quarantine hopefully the amount of outbreaks can be reduced. i agree that F10 is something that everyone should have on hand.

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:32 am Post subject:

Steve and Naomi, that’s is really bad news, I was told you had a exceptional collection and for this too happen is very wrong, it does outline the importance of being careful even tho you guys did your utmost the prevent it, this is just awfully and I am very sorry to hear about it...PM me species of lizards you have your eye on and I will see what I can do, from my collection and from those that owe me…would be glad to help.

Regards Marc

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 5:19 am Post subject:

I am so sorry to hear this news.

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 5:22 am Post subject:

Geezus steve

all our bickering aside .... I am very sorry at ur loss i cant even begin to imagine a loss that big Sad

Does OPMV only affect pythons or all snakes elapids and colubrids?
(yes i know i should read more on the desiese)

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 7:54 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone, it hasn't been a good day. It's just going to be a waiting game for a while now to work out my options.

I really hope this never happens to any of you guys.

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:02 am Post subject:

im really taking your advice seriously steve
im going out tomorrow to buy some F10 and im gonna clean the entire enclosures out when im changing the substrate

sorry again what happened to you Sad

jacob

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:20 am Post subject:

Wow, that's a real bummer guys. Sorry for your loss and the possible losses to come.

At least you guys have done the right thing, unlike many other keepers and have come forward.

If you are breeding this season, keep your hatchies seperate from the rest of the collection as there is no evidence of it being transfered into the eggs. So even if the parent happens to have OPMV, the hatchies won't.

As most people know there is a guy in WA doing a paper on OPMV, his name eludes me at the moment, but alrady a few interesting things are starting to show up.

Even though we have had OPMV in elapids in Aust., it appears that the OPMV that is killing our pythons is a different strain of paramixovirus.

For those that are new to this, a paramixovirus is a name that covers a particular group viruses, Ophidian being a type of strain of this virus. In Lamens terms.

At this stage it appears that the strain of paramixovirus that is affecting our pythons may be an Australian strain, different to the one that has effected the elapids.

There is also hope that a test will be developed and also the possability of a cure. There is still a lot of work to be done, but it is certainly a virus that needs to be understood and it is about time someone did something about it.

If anyone needs any F10, visit www.strictlyreptiles.com.au and we can sort you out. There is also a range of hand gels, hand scrubs and hand washes. If you need any info on F10 than please PM me and I will certainly try and help you out.
Cheers
Daz

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:27 am Post subject:

Yep Daz the eggs i have in the incubator will be going elsewhere before they hatch, fortunatly i don't have much in the incubator so it won't be much hassle.

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:33 am Post subject:

That is terrible news!! But I have to say thank you and well done...you are both very brave in coming forward and admitting it....well done. I hope it all works out in the long run.