{"topic_id":"evidence_exotic_corn_snake_clinical","category":"evidence","context":"---\ntopic_id: evidence_exotic_corn_snake_clinical\ncategory: evidence\ntitle: \"Evidence cluster — Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) clinical cases (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)\"\nlang: en\nsource: \"Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search, first-hand peer-reviewed abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01\"\nsource_file: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_corn_snake_clinical_2026-08-01.txt\ndate_parsed: 2026-08-01\ntokens_estimated: 4544\nverification:\n  method: substring_match\n  claims: 12\n  passed: 12\n  date: 2026-08-01\nsource_document: \"Peer-reviewed Corn snake clinical-case literature (Europe PMC, first-hand abstracts)\"\ncitation:\n  authority: \"Europe PMC\"\n  title: \"Evidence cluster — Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) clinical cases (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)\"\n  url: \"https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/\"\n  retrieved: \"2026-08-01\"\n  doc_type: \"first-hand abstracts (Europe PMC REST)\"\n  needs_review: false\n---\n\n# Evidence: Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) clinical cases\n\nSource: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01.\nQueries covered clinical case reports and case series for Pantherophis guttatus.\nThe cluster returns **12** representative clinical cases with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each case is traceable by PMID.\n\n## Studies\n- **PMID 41623653 (2026, Access microbiology)** — A cold-blooded culprit: Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae pulmonary infection in an immunocompromised patient: a case report.. Abstract (opening): <b>Background.</b> <i>Salmonella enterica</i> subsp. <i>arizonae</i> is an uncommon zoonotic pathogen primarily associated with reptiles. While most infections are gastrointestinal, invasive infections such as bacteraemia, osteomyelitis, meningitis and septic arthritis have been reported, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Pulmonary infections are exceedingly rare. <b>Case presentation.</b> A 66-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis on a tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor presented with a 2 week history of progressive cough and dyspnoea. She reported prolonged exposure to a pet snake. Sputum cultures confirmed <i>S. enterica</i> subsp. <i>arizonae</i>, with susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Imaging revealed the right lower lobe infiltrate without cavitation. She was successfully treated with ciprofloxacin for 2 weeks, with resolution of symptoms. <b>Conclusion.</b> This case highlights an uncommon presentation of <i>Salmonella</i> infection in an immunocompromised patient with bronchiectasis. With increasing exotic pet ownership, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for <i>Salmonella enterica</i> subsp. <i>arizonae</i> in patients with known reptile exposure.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41623653/\n- **PMID 42121721 (2026, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI)** — Tiletamine-Zolazepam Use in Exotic Pets and Wildlife Anesthesia: A Narrative Review Towards Practical Guidelines.. Abstract (opening): This narrative review examines the clinical application of tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) in exotic pet and wildlife anesthesia, addressing the complexities inherent in managing a broad taxonomic spectrum with diverse physiological profiles and temperaments. As a fixed-dose combination, TZ is a cornerstone of multimodal protocols designed to achieve balanced anesthesia. Its lyophilized formulation permits reconstitution with various sedative solutions, facilitating low-volume administration, a critical requirement for the immobilization of wildlife and small exotic patients. Given the significant variability in species-specific responses and environmental influences, selecting and adapting appropriate TZ-based protocols remain a challenge for practitioners. By synthesizing heterogeneous data into expert-validated guidance, this review provides specialized and general veterinarians with practical considerations for the judicious use of TZ. Emphasis is placed on integrating TZ within multimodal protocols to mitigate arousal risks, ensure consistent immobilization, and facilitate rapid recovery. This approach seeks to optimize anesthetic outcomes and promote animal welfare across these physiologically diverse populations.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42121721/\n- **PMID 42273264 (2026, Frontiers in veterinary science)** — Health assessment and multipathogen surveillance of free-ranging snakes in the southeastern United States.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Introduction</h4>Health assessments and pathogen surveys in wildlife are critical for gauging population-level risks. Recent concerns associated with ophidiomycosis, caused by the fungus <i>Ophidiomyces ophidiicola</i> (<i>Oo</i>), have brought needed attention to snake conservation.<h4>Methods</h4>We evaluated the health of native snake species in the southeastern United States through physical examinations and multipathogen surveillance targeting <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp., <i>Hepatozoon</i> spp., <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp., <i>Oo</i>, <i>Raillietiella orientalis</i> (<i>Ro</i>)<i>, Salmonella</i> spp., and serpentoviruses. We hypothesized that apparent ophidiomycosis (skin lesions present and qPCR detection of <i>Oo</i>) would be positively associated with coinfection detection, and that pathogen detection prevalence would vary spatiotemporally and among snake species. We assessed pathogen and disease prevalence through monthly sampling from May 2022 to May 2024 (via full-body skin swabs, choanal swabs, cloacal swabs, blood, and fecal collection, and physical examinations) at wetland sites in Volusia County, Florida, and Jasper County, South Carolina. We opportunistically sampled snakes from a site in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, and included diagnostic cases submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study from 2021 to 2024.<h4>Results</h4>In total, we sampled 509 individuals with 49 recaptures, representing 29 species. We included 61 carcasses, comprising 56 individuals (33 collected opportunistically) and five recaptures. We detected <i>Salmonella enterica</i> in 62.6% (306/489), <i>Hepatozoon</i> spp. in 53.4% (205/384), <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. in 17.5% (78/445), <i>Oo</i> in 16.1% (82/508), and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. in 2.0% (10/489). Detection of <i>Ro</i> was limited to snakes in Florida, with a detection prevalence of 12.7% (37/292). No serpentoviruses were detected (<i>n</i> = 447). Overall coinfection prevalence was 44.0% (219/498) and was strongly predictive of apparent ophidiomycosis (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. and <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. were nearly exclusively detected in snakes from Florida. Seasonal trends were seen in the detection of <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. (<i>p</i> = 0.0075), <i>Oo</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.0475), and <i>S. enterica</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.0295). Detection of <i>Oo</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.0002) or <i>Ro</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.0200) was negatively associated with nutritional condition scores. Increased detection risks of <i>Oo</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.0479) and apparent ophidiomycosis (<i>p</i> = 0.0148) were observed primarily in pygmy rattlesnakes (<i>Sistrurus miliarius</i>), supported by severe associated pathology, indicating increased conservation risks.<h4>Discussion</h4>This health assessment enhances understanding of infectious agents circulating in free-ranging snakes in the southeastern United States and establishes baseline parameters to inform conservation management.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42273264/\n- **PMID 40201872 (2025, Cureus)** — An Intriguing Case of Non-typhoidal Salmonella Presenting as Bacteremia and Bilateral Cellulitis in a Diabetic Patient.. Abstract (opening): Non-typhoidal <i>Salmonella</i> typically presents acutely with gastrointestinal disease/illness. These infections infrequently manifest outside the intestines, often due to bacterial translocation from the gut. However, it is exceedingly rare for it to present as cellulitis, especially in a bilateral distribution. A 35-year-old male with a past medical history of diffuse adiposity, essential hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and depression presented to the emergency department (ED) for evaluation of sudden onset bilateral lower extremity swelling, pain, and redness. The patient first noted these symptoms upon awakening two days prior, accompanied by night sweats. He mentioned having burned his right medial lower leg on a motorcycle exhaust pipe a week earlier but reported appropriate healing of the burn. Of note, the patient owned a corn snake, a potential vector for <i>Salmonella</i>, and was diagnosed with diabetes during this admission. He was ultimately found to have diffuse cellulitis of his bilateral lower extremities, with subsequent blood cultures yielding a diagnosis of bacteremia secondary to salmonellosis.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40201872/\n- **PMID 39924250 (2025, The Journal of veterinary medical science)** — Treatment of esophagogastric intussusception due to cryptosporidiosis using paromomycin in a corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus).. Abstract (opening): A 3-year-old captive corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) was taken our veterinary clinic with a complaint of intermittent body swelling. Radiography revealed soft-tissue swelling, and ultrasonography confirmed intussusception of the digestive tract. Celiotomy revealed esophagogastric intussusception, which was subsequently corrected. Histopathological examination of gastric mucosal biopsy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from feces were revealed protozoan parasitism within the lesion and detected specific genes of Cryptosporidium spp. Oral administration of paromomycin at 100 mg/kg once daily for 10 days, subsequently twice weekly for 90 days under strict hygiene management were conducted as postoperative treatment. The snake was in good clinical health. PCR and ultrasonography for Cryptosporidium spp. 752 days after surgery showed no evidence of cryptosporidiosis.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39924250/\n- **PMID 41600686 (2025, Veterinary sciences)** — Biochemical and Hepatic Determinants of Reproductive Failure in Reptiles: A Review of Dystocia Pathophysiology and Management.. Abstract (opening): Dystocia represents a multifactorial and clinically significant reproductive disorder affecting a broad spectrum of reptilian species. Commonly resulting from prolonged vitellogenesis, endocrine disruption, or hepatic lipidosis, dystocia is often exacerbated by suboptimal husbandry or concurrent disease. This review critically evaluates the etiology, diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic interventions associated with this condition. Emphasis is placed on the interplay between metabolic exhaustion and hepatic compromise, which may lower the threshold for surgical intervention. The efficacy and limitations of oxytocin-based protocols are discussed in the context of hormonal receptor variability and response attenuation. Advanced diagnostic modalities, including ultrasonography, radiography/CT, and biochemical profiling, are reviewed for their utility in case stratification. Finally, surgical management options are considered for cases refractory to medical treatment, with attention paid to timing, anesthetic risk, and post-operative care. Collectively, this synthesis aims to inform evidence-based clinical decision-making and promote improved standards of care in reptile reproductive medicine.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41600686/\n- **PMID 41031330 (2025, Medical mycology case reports)** — &lt;i&gt;Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides&lt;/i&gt; infection mimicking ophidiomycosis in ball pythons (&lt;i&gt;Python regius&lt;/i&gt;).. Abstract (opening): A wild caught snake presented with progressive dermatopathy and was euthanized due to a clinical suspicion for ophiomycosis. Over the next 7 days, six additional ball pythons, maintained in the same room but in separate cages from the index case developed similar progressive dermatomycoses and were euthanized. Histopathologic evaluation showed dermal granulomas with intralesional fungi and DNA from the lesions clustered in a monophyletic group with other isolates of <i>N. athrosporioides</i>. Colony and microscopic morphology of fungus from these cases matched published descriptions of <i>N. arthrosporioides</i>. While ophidiomycosis may be a major differential for dermatomycosis in snakes, molecular confirmation should be pursued, as additional fungi may cause similar lesions in this taxon.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41031330/\n- **PMID 40463863 (2025, International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife)** — First identification of a patent pentastomid pulmonary (&lt;i&gt;Raillietiella orientalis&lt;/i&gt;) infection in a captive Meller's chameleon (&lt;i&gt;Trioceros melleri&lt;/i&gt;) in Germany.. Abstract (opening): A female, zoo-housed, adult Meller's giant one-horned chameleon (<i>Trioceros melleri</i>) showed clinical symptoms including halitosis, obstipation, dysecdysis and shed pentastomid eggs with the faeces. After a patent pentastomiasis was diagnosed, the chameleon's condition worsened after repeated ivermectin treatments, and the animal was euthanized due to animal welfare reasons. The necropsy revealed that the lungs were infected with 29 adult pentastomid specimens. Based on morphological and ultrastructural characteristics pentastomids were identified as <i>Raillietiella orientalis</i>. Additionally, this species identification was confirmed by DNA sequencing (18S rRNA). Pentastomid-infected insects, such as cockroaches, might play an important role in the transmission of <i>R</i>. <i>orientalis</i> as suitable obligate intermediate hosts. Another crucial factor to be considered is the importation of wild caught individuals, providing a potential source for numerous emerging infectious disease transmissions and parasite spillovers. This is the first report, to the best of our knowledge, on a patent pulmonary <i>R. orientalis</i> infection in a captive chameleon. We call for further investigations on neglected pentastomid infections in chameleons and lizards kept as pets to better understand implications of this new host record and its possible role in transmission of emerging pentastomiasis.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40463863/\n- **PMID 39530499 (2025, Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology)** — Effects of snake fungal disease (ophidiomycosis) on the skin microbiome across two major experimental scales.. Abstract (opening): Emerging infectious diseases are increasingly recognized as a significant threat to global biodiversity conservation. Elucidating the relationship between pathogens and the host microbiome could lead to novel approaches for mitigating disease impacts. Pathogens can alter the host microbiome by inducing dysbiosis, an ecological state characterized by a reduction in bacterial alpha diversity, an increase in pathobionts, or a shift in beta diversity. We used the snake fungal disease (SFD; ophidiomycosis), system to examine how an emerging pathogen may induce dysbiosis across two experimental scales. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction, bacterial amplicon sequencing, and a deep learning neural network to characterize the skin microbiome of free-ranging snakes across a broad phylogenetic and spatial extent. Habitat suitability models were used to find variables associated with fungal presence on the landscape. We also conducted a laboratory study of northern watersnakes to examine temporal changes in the skin microbiome following inoculation with Ophidiomyces ophidiicola. Patterns characteristic of dysbiosis were found at both scales, as were nonlinear changes in alpha and alterations in beta diversity, although structural-level and dispersion changes differed between field and laboratory contexts. The neural network was far more accurate (99.8% positive predictive value [PPV]) in predicting disease state than other analytic techniques (36.4% PPV). The genus Pseudomonas was characteristic of disease-negative microbiomes, whereas, positive snakes were characterized by the pathobionts Chryseobacterium, Paracoccus, and Sphingobacterium. Geographic regions suitable for O. ophidiicola had high pathogen loads (>0.66 maximum sensitivity + specificity). We found that pathogen-induced dysbiosis of the microbiome followed predictable trends, that disease state could be classified with neural network analyses, and that habitat suitability models predicted habitat for the SFD pathogen.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39530499/\n- **PMID 39581570 (2025, Journal of fish biology)** — Morphometric synthesis of Pollimyrus (Teleostei, Mormyridae) with the description of four new species.. Abstract (opening): Mormyridae, a species-rich family endemic to Africa, remains taxonomically understudied. This has been the case for the genus Pollimyrus Taverne, 1971, which hinders further understanding of the distribution, ecology, and conservation of its species. Therefore, an in-depth morphometric comparison of all currently valid species is carried out using most of the available type specimens. Species delineations were re-evaluated, and four species new to science described: Pollimyrus ibalazambai sp. nov. (the Luki River, the Democratic Republic of the Congo), Pollimyrus krameri sp. nov. (the Lugenda River, Mozambique), Pollimyrus vanneeri sp. nov. (the Kouilou-Niari River, the Republic of the Congo), and Pollimyrus weyli sp. nov. (the Buzi River, Mozambique). In this study, Pollimyrus guttatus is confirmed to belong to Pollimyrus, whereas Pollimyrus eburneensis and Cyphomyrus plagiostoma seem more similar to species allocated to other genera. No or only little morphological differences were found between the type series of several species, which could indicate the need for synonymization of these species (Pollimyrus cuandoensis with Pollimyrus marianne and Pollimyrus nigripinnis with Pollimyrus pulverulentus). As such 20 species are currently morphologically identifiable in the genus Pollimyrus. The present study highlights the critical need for further synthetic efforts and new collecting efforts across Africa for this and other Mormyridae genera.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39581570/\n- **PMID 39339972 (2024, Viruses)** — Evaluating the Effects of Viruses on Eastern Indigo Snakes (&lt;i&gt;Drymarchon couperi&lt;/i&gt;) with Gastric Cryptosporidiosis.. Abstract (opening): A breeding colony of wild-origin eastern indigo snakes (EISs, <i>Drymarchon couperi</i>) that is part of a reintroduction program has been impacted by gastric cryptosporidiosis. Gastric cryptosporidiosis is an insidious disease of squamates caused by an apicomplexan protozoan, <i>Cryptosporidium serpentis</i>. Viral coinfections have been implicated as possible immunosuppressant agents that allow for disease progression and both adenovirus and reovirus have been implicated in allowing for the progression of gastric cryptosporidiosis during coinfection in other snake species. Molecular (PCR) screening for adenoviruses and reoviruses was performed for both <i>C. serpentis</i>-positive and <i>C. serpentis</i>-negative EIS within the breeding colony. No reoviruses were detected in the collection. Adenoviruses were present in 11/68 (16.2%) EISs evaluated, and there was no significant difference between <i>C. serpentis</i>-positive and <i>C. serpentis</i>-negative EISs (<i>p</i> = 0.196). There was no significant difference in adenovirus status between <i>C. serpentis</i>-positive EISs' lifespan (<i>p</i> = 0.191) or survival rates (<i>p</i> = 0.823). These findings suggest that the presence of the adenoviruses found in this study does not contribute to the formation or progression of gastric cryptosporidiosis in EISs.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39339972/\n- **PMID 39633402 (2024, BMC veterinary research)** — Metastasizing dysgerminoma in an inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps).. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>Malignant dysgerminomas are infrequently reported ovarian neoplasms in animals, especially in exotic pets (non-traditional companion animals [NTCAs]). In the few published case reports on reptilian species, examples are primarily postmortem without antemortem (clinical) assessment.<h4>Patient presentation</h4>An adult, 13-year-old, spayed female inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) presented with lethargy, a right-sided head tilt, unilateral exophthalmos and ventrotemporal strabismus on the right eye. On examination, a palpable mass (approximately 3.5 cm in diameter) was detected within the mid coelomic cavity. Computed tomography revealed a retrobulbar swelling and lytic bone lesions affecting the right frontal bone and several vertebrae (T11, T13, and T14). Multiple nodules of soft tissue opacity were also detected within the lungs, liver, and coelomic fat bodies. Haematology revealed leukocytosis with heterophilia and toxic granulation of heterophils. On the basis of these results, differential diagnoses included disseminated abscesses, granulomas (e.g., due to mycobacteriosis) and neoplasms. The lizard was subsequently euthanized due to end-stage disease and a poor prognosis. Postmortem gross examination and histopathology revealed a primary ovarian dysgerminoma with evidence of widespread metastasis as well as localized tissue destruction affecting the right retrobulbar space and frontal bone, the spinal column, the lungs, the liver, and both coelomic fat bodies.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This report describes a case of malignant dysgerminoma with widespread intraosseous and visceral metastases in a captive inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps).\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39633402/\n\nSource text: `pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_corn_snake_clinical_2026-08-01.txt` (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).\n","sources":["Europe PMC — Evidence cluster — Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) clinical cases (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC) (retrieved 2026-08-01)"],"source":{"authority":"Europe PMC","title":"Evidence cluster — Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) clinical cases (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41623653/","retrieved":"2026-08-01","ref":"PMID 41623653","doc_type":"official PDF","source_document":"Peer-reviewed Corn snake clinical-case literature (Europe PMC, first-hand abstracts)","verification_file":"pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_corn_snake_clinical_2026-08-01.txt"},"source_document":"Peer-reviewed Corn snake clinical-case literature (Europe PMC, first-hand abstracts)","source_file":"pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_corn_snake_clinical_2026-08-01.txt","tokens_estimated":600,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}