Posted by:
MatPrice
at Sun Aug 3 15:22:17 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by MatPrice ]
I am very certain that you are right Cheri that crickets can not serve an intermediate host to coccidia. My opinion (not yet tested) that IF coccidia cells are found on crickets that have not come in contact with any reptiles. Or reptilian feces than the species of coccidia that is found on them will not in any way harm, or even show up upon fecal examination of reptile feces. I feel that coccidia specifically the species that infects bearded dragons is very host specific and ridding the animal of that particular species as well as its environment, should in turn rid you coccidia unless the species of coccidia is somehow re transmitted to your animal.
This is what I am going to test. I have three dragons here that in over a month have shown 0 cells of coccidia and have each had numerous fecal exams performed by me. I can sit here and take the time to run each fecal and look as long as I want since I have no other patients ect waiting.
I think that I have already proven with the fact that I do nothing special with my feeders that if crickets carry coccidia it is not transmissible to dragons.
The next step is to prove whether or not the crickets I am feeding have some form of coccidia on them and to identify that species if they do.
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RE: Coccidia and crickets - MatPrice, Sun Aug 3 15:22:17 2003