Haemolymphatic tissues of captive boa constrictor (Boa constrictor): morphological features in healthy individuals and with Boid Inclusion Body Disease

Knowledge on the structure and composition of the haematopoietic tissue (HT) is essential to understand the basic immune functions of the immune system in any species. For reptiles, it is extremely limited, hence we undertook an in-depth in situ investigation of the HT (bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymphatic tissue of the alimentary tract) in the common boa (Boa constrictor). We also assessed age- and disease-related changes, with a special focus on Boid Inclusion Body Disease, a highly relevant reptarenavirus-associated disease in boid snakes. The HT was subjected to gross, histological and ultrastructural examination, including special stains, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and morphometric analyses. In general, the HT was dominated by T cells and lacked a clear structural organization, such as follicle formation. BIBD was associated with significantly higher cellularity and a granulomatous response in the spleen, and the presence of virus-infected haematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, suggesting the latter as a persistent source of viremia. HighlightsO_LILymphatic tissues of B. constrictor lack organization and are dominated by T cells C_LIO_LIThe thymus of B. constrictor shows slow age-related involution C_LIO_LIBIBD-positive boas show a granulomatous response in the spleen C_LIO_LIReptarenaviruses infect haematopoietic cells in the bone marrow C_LIO_LIReptarenavirus infected bone marrow cells might represent a source of viremia C_LI