Abstract

Blister disease is characterized by raised, dermal, fluid-filled lesions. Sick animals develop serious septicemic conditions by secondary infections, depressed immunity, and feeding difficulty as a result of the inflammatory process. Thirty baby anacondas (Eunectes murinus) were born at Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo (FPZSP) and all of them developed clinical signs associated with blister disease. The culture results identified a large number of bacteria sensitive to amikacin, a nephrotoxic antimicrobial agent that can have diminished action in inflamed tissues. On the other hand, some research has shown that dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) topical applications provide relief of pain and considerable reduction of tissue inflammation, improving tissue absorption of other medicine molecules. The intention with this research was to verify the effects of a topical application of an amikacin-dimethylsulphoxide solution for treatment of blister disease in baby anacondas. In the study, thirty baby anacondas with blister disease were topically treated daily with a 2.5% amikacin dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO: 99.78%) solution during one hundred twenty consecutive days. Initially, seven amikacin treatments (5 mg/kg, i.m., q 72 hrs) were given as well, and the enclosure’s humidity was decreased. After the end of the treatment the animals showed a large improvement in locomotive activity, skin wounds that were quickly healed, reduction of the appearance of new vesicles, and had begun to eat. Only two snakes died. We may conclude that the use of these two drugs has had the desired effect and might be suggested as a treatment for blister disease in anaconda babies.