CLINICAL MANAGEMENT AND THERAPEUTIC PROTOCOLS IN THE TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS STOMATITIS IN SNAKES

Abstract

Infectious stomatitis, often referred to as "mouth rot," is a severe inflammatory and degenerative condition in snakes, characterized by high morbidity and mortality if not managed early. Contemporary evidence reveals that stomatitis is often a secondary clinical manifestation of severe systemic viral infections (nidovirus and reptarenavirus) or concomitant with parasitic infestations such as those caused by Strongyloides spp. in colubrids. Given the complexity of the condition, effective clinical management requires investigation of the underlying etiology. This investigation is a narrative literature review that systematizes and analyzes scientific discussions on management and therapeutic protocols, based on a search of articles in the PubMed database using the descriptors "Stomatitis" AND "Snakes" from the last decade. The results highlight that stomatitis is a sentinel sign for nidovirus infection in pythons, where the oral cavity acts as a viral reservoir, and that the parasitic etiology induces epithelial hyperplasia and facial deformities. It is concluded that the effectiveness of local treatment is limited when the primary cause is systemic, making precise etiological diagnosis (molecular and histopathological) and a holistic management integrating biosecurity, dietary support, and aggressive deworming, when indicated, indispensable for clinical success and specimen preservation.