reverendsterlin
07-05-03, 02:27 PM
You have to enjoy college libraries when you want to find out about stuff. Mouth Rot, Ulcerativa Estomatitis usually is not a primary disease, it usually appears in situations involving stress to the animal but injury may also be an initial cause. The most generally found bacterial causes are gram negative bacteria like Aeromonas spp., Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp. and Salmonella spp. (Mader, 1996), although some gram positive bacteria like Staphylococcus sp. and Streptococcus sp. ET may be the cause on occassion (Frye, 1991). Infections by mycobacteria (Quesenberry) have been also been associated with the onset of the disease in a few cases ( Olsen 1987). The two more frequent complications found with mouth rot are breathing problems, the snakes lack of diaphragm prevents coughing fluids out of the lung, and also eye infection problems as the bacteria reproduces in the space that exists between the cornea and the lens. Treat the specific microorganisms found by testing, and also use a corresponding antibiotic. It is recomended an anaerobic culture be taken since sometimes anaerobic bacteria have been found to be the cause of the problem, and the antibiotics that are generally offered to reptiles only work on the aerobic bacteria that are much more frequently associated with mouth rot (Stewart, 1990). In addition to the corresponding antibiotic therapy, local rinsing of the mouth with diluted iodized solutions are recommended several times a day, usually solutions of clorhexidine and acetic acid diluted together and/or hydrogen peroxide (food grade) are best. (Messonnier, 1996).