Microbiological Analysis of Laryngeal and Oral Swab Samples from Captive-Bred Snakes with Respiratory Tract Infections in Bulgaria

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the most often isolated bacteria in the oral cavity and glottis in captive-bred pet snakes with respiratory tract infections (RTI) from the Boidae and Pythonidae families in Bulgaria. Swab samples from 29 snakes with clinically presented respiratory disease symptoms were collected. Cultures in different selective and differentiating media were prepared. Bacteria of various groups were isolated such as Pantoea agglomerans, Kluyvera intermedia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and others, as well as some fungi, mainly Aspergillus sp.