ABSTRACT

The case of a severe spinal osteomyelitis in a 3- year- old rhinoceros homed viper, Bitis nasicornis, is presented. The snake was captive-born and kept by the author since the age of three months with no history of trauma. Despite massive destruction of the spine with compression of the spinal cord, the snake showed no altered behavior. The only clinical signs were movement restrictions of the afflicted body region and a swelling which became obvious shortly before the animal was euthanatized. Enterococcus spp. were found to be the causative agent of the infection.