Mouthrot in snakes is caused by which bacterium?

Mouthrot in snakes is caused by which bacterium?

• A. Pseudomonas
• B. Aeromonas
• C. Vibrio
• D. Mycobacterium

Answer: (B)

Mouthrot in snakes is most often due to an aquatic, opportunistic bacterium: Aeromonas. These bacteria are common in freshwater environments and can take advantage of stressed or damaged oral tissue, such as when water quality is poor or the mouth is injured. Once the mucosa is compromised, Aeromonas hydrophila and related species multiply, causing ulceration, discharge, and the characteristic signs of stomatitis. Pseudomonas can cause various infections but is not the classic driver of mouthrot in snakes. Vibrio is typically associated with marine environments, not the freshwater or mixed-habitat settings snakes commonly encounter. Mycobacterium tends to cause chronic, granulomatous lesions rather than the acute stomatitis seen with mouthrot.

Mouthrot in snakes is most often due to an aquatic, opportunistic bacterium: Aeromonas. These bacteria are common in freshwater environments and can take advantage of stressed or damaged oral tissue, such as when water quality is poor or the mouth is injured. Once the mucosa is compromised, Aeromonas hydrophila and related species multiply, causing ulceration, discharge, and the characteristic signs of stomatitis.

Pseudomonas can cause various infections but is not the classic driver of mouthrot in snakes. Vibrio is typically associated with marine environments, not the freshwater or mixed-habitat settings snakes commonly encounter. Mycobacterium tends to cause chronic, granulomatous lesions rather than the acute stomatitis seen with mouthrot.