Nidoviruses in Reptiles: A Review

Since their discovery in 2014, reptile nidoviruses (also known as serpentoviruses) have emerged significant pathogens worldwide. They are for causing severe and often fatal respiratory disease various captive snake species, especially pythons. Related viruses been detected other reptiles with without disease, including wild populations of lizards, freshwater turtles. There many opportunities to better understand the viral diversity, species susceptibility, clinical presentation different this relatively new field research. In collections, can spread quickly be associated high morbidity mortality, yet potential risk remains largely unknown, despite declining on a global scale. Experimental studies or investigations outbreaks scarce, leaving available literature limited mostly exploring findings naturally infected animals captivity. Further into pathogenesis variety is required explore complexity routes transmission. This review focuses biology these viruses, hosts geographic distribution, signs pathology, laboratory diagnosis management nidovirus infections reptiles.