Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in the Phx, AZ area. This shows up in fecal exams of my Egyptian uromastyx kept in AZ for 3 yrs. I just acquired leopard tortoises from CA, and FL. Did fecals on both (first poop after arrival) and found the same thing. More of these show up in smears than floats. Is this a parasite or is it a normal presence in herbivors (some sort of pollen or something)? The FL tortoise and my uromastyx both have hookworm eggs and larvae in the floats, and I will treat with panacur. The CA tortoises only have these spiral things, no eggs or hookworm larvae showed up in the float. Thanks for any inputs. (500X magnification)
Paul

It seems in might be some sort of vegetable fiber as it appears hollow and "unwinds" with physical force of preparing the sample. Do any intestinal parasites have a spiral morphology? I think this image might be at 100X. Once again, any inputs will be appreciated. Thanks.
Paul

I'm not sure about what those are but on the web is the merck veterinay manual. Maybe you can find some help there.
Merck vet manual Reptiles

Paul, you are correct, those are vegetative spirals. They are part of the plant vascular system if I recall.

T.B

It looks artifact to me.

Sorry for my lack of experience here, just need some verification of the terminology. Trying to decide if I need to treat animals with these artifacts, but no eggs in the fecal floats. I know some eggs don't float, but I don't have the equipment to do centrifuge sedementation technique. Thanks.
Paul

No, it looks like plant matter to me.

I have taken samples to the vet in the past, but at $25-$30 per exam, and an ever-growing collection of herps, the $100.00 eBay microscope (older AO-60, 40X-970X) seems a worthwhile investment (I was very pleased to discover I could hold my digi-cam against the ocular and get photos of my observations for archive and to share with experts as youselves). Especially since the recommended follow-up exams after treatment were not occurring. I will now be monitoring my collection regularly and all should benefit. My Egyptian uromastyx had not grown at all this summer, once I saw all those eggs in the float, I knew why. And I won't let it happen again!
Thanks again.
Paul

>>I have taken samples to the vet in the past, but at $25-$30 per exam, and an ever-growing collection of herps, the $100.00 eBay microscope (older AO-60, 40X-970X) seems a worthwhile investment (I was very pleased to discover I could hold my digi-cam against the ocular and get photos of my observations for archive and to share with experts as youselves). Especially since the recommended follow-up exams after treatment were not occurring. I will now be monitoring my collection regularly and all should benefit. My Egyptian uromastyx had not grown at all this summer, once I saw all those eggs in the float, I knew why. And I won't let it happen again!
>>Thanks again.
>>Paul
>>
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Sonya