Emerald Tree Boa Organization - Corallus caninus - ERS

Emerald Regurgitation Syndrome

Without question the most pervasive and illusive health challenge which any corallus enthusiast is likely to tackle is ERS. The illness commonly referred to as Emerald Regurgitation Syndrome is singularly responsible for more premature deaths in Corallus caninus (the South American Emerald Tree Boa) than any other pathogen known or as yet unrecognized. Considerable time and resources have been invested investigating the syndrome, and although as yet there is no conclusive evidence as to its cause or causes strides in prevention as well as a controversial but hopeful treatment have been derived from it.

After taking a year designing my study, it was conducted over a two year period and involved forty-eight subject animals known to display the symptoms common to all sufferers of ERS. My conclusion based on the various test results and historic case log analysis prefers the likelihood that the malady is in fact not a singular entity but rather a common reactive symptom of the invaded system. Currently available effective treatment options number only one and that treatment has a documented best case percentage of stabilization and recovery ratios of only fifty percent. While on the surface 50/50 odds may seem meager at best, up until this regime was established the documented effective recovery rate and long term survival statistics numbered zero making the odds a veritable God send.

In The Source of Emerald Vomiting, a paper jointly authored by Kerry Swan and Tom Weidner, the authors outline a regime which closely parallels that which I recommend to those who wish to explore a treatment option. What is described within their work they believe to be the most effective treatment option to date. In fact, although the two studies drew markedly different conclusions with respect to the pathology at work, such is in fact the case. However, I feel obligated to state that the success ratio reported within the Weidner/Swan study group differs dramatically from that experienced at my facility using essentially the same medication, however this does not serve to invalidate nor disprove the likelihood of the Weidner/Swan hypothesis with regard to the pathology involved. Although such divergence cannot serve to strengthen or support either set of findings, at the very least, keepers can take satisfaction in the knowledge that, a treatment option has been provided and proven effective in at least fifty percent of all recorded test cases.

Given the necessary time, in future I will attempt to incorporate aspects of the Weidner/Swan paper, its research and findings in a comparison to data derived from my own study which officially concluded in December of 2002. For now my general recommendation to individuals dealing with stricken specimens displaying the common symptons known as ERS is euthanasia of the affected animal. Although long term sustenance is possible, without medicinal intervention, viability, growth and reproduction are virtually impossible for such specimens even as they continue to pose a considerable health risk to any healthy population of emeralds in the vicinity.

Hopefully, given enough time and interest on the part of those involved with caninus, the mysteries surrounding ERS may someday be revealed and the ability of veterinarians to confidently prescribe in a medicinal cure will be found. For now, the best I can offer is advice based on personal experience as well as an individual risk assessment of each case.

Stay tuned to this topic on The Tree Boa Forum, and please support those selfless enough to continue the research. With your support, through both monetary donations and through the free sharing of data (first hand account data of personal experiences with ERS is an invaluable source for researchers) we can keep this research in the forefront until a satisfactory solution can be found.

To Be Continued

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