ITS Sequence Analysis of Ophidascaris Baylisi from Burmese Pythons

Members of genus Ophidascaris are common parasitic roundworms in snakes that cause gastric granulomas, adenocarcinomas, intestinal obstruction, death, and serious economic losses in snakes and their products. To identify molecular marker of Ophidascaris baylisi from the Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus), we amplified internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence from this roundworm and analyzed their homology and phylogeny. The amplified ITS sequence length was 1140 bp, comprising the complete ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 sequences and a partial 28S sequence. The ITS1+ sequence was homologous (85.8% homology) to the related species Ophidascaris robertsi. The phylogenetic tree revealed a close genetic distance between O. baylisi and O. robertsi, which formed a separate branch within family Ascaridae clade. The results indicated that the identified ITS sequence could be a good molecular marker for further study on the molecular classification and genetic variation of Ophidascaris species.

FIRST REPORT OF Paenibacillus cineris FROM A BURMESE PYTHON (Python molurus bivittatus) WITH ORAL ABSCESS

We report a case of oral abscess caused by Paenibacillus cineris in a pet Burmese python. Microbiological and nucleic acid sequencing showed high similarity to the reference strain P. cineris (113XG30) isolated in China. Although Paenibacillus spp. are environmental bacteria, we highlight the importance of careful consideration of such unusual organisms in exotic reptiles.Key words: Paenibacillus cineris; python; pharyngeal abscessPRVO POROČILO O OSAMITVI Paenibacillus cineris IZ BURMANSKEGA PITONA (Python molurus bivittatus) Z ORALNIM ABSCESOMV članku je opisan primer oralnega abscesa, ki ga je povzročila bakterija Paenibacillus cineris pri hišnem burmanskem pitonu. Mikrobiološko in nukleinsko kislinsko zaporedje je pokazalo visoko podobnost z referenčnim sevom P. cineris (113XG30), izoliranim na Kitajskem. Čeprav spada Paenibacillus spp. med okoljske bakterije, lahko takšni neobičajni mikroorganizmi pri eksotičnih plazilcih povzročajo tudi zdravstvene težave in jim moramo posvečati pozornost.Ključne besede: Paenibacillus cineris; piton; žrelni absces

Size Matters: First record of minimum male size at maturity and mating of free-ranging, endangered Indian Python Python molurus

Indian python Python molurus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the world’s giant snakes with maximum lengths measured six to eight meters. Nevertheless, information on the size at maturity of P. molurus is not available. On February 9, 2019, 12:56 pm, one female and two males were observed during the group mating in Moyar River Valley Landscape, Southern India. We report the first observation on smallest male measuring 198 cm total length, 172 cm snoutvent length and weighing 3.3.kg mated with a radio-tagged larger female. At the end of the mating event everted hemi penis were observed in the male pythons. Our observation on the mating and morphology details of P. molurus gives the first glimpse of juvenile the male maturity that representing the youngest known free-ranging matured male of this poorly studied species in its distribution range.