Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey,

I just got the results from my third fecal, and once again Crypto didn't show up... I did have them do an acid-fast stain... So if this is the case, then I'm very, very happy. BUT they didn't find anyother parasites either... their words "You could bring in a morning stool, and an evening, and both would be different"... This is true. I did however give my "old" vet another try, as they believe they may have missed something with the previous fecals thus giving me my newest and my follow-ups free of charge. For that I'm grateful... On a better note, some of the babies do seem to be gaining weight, in both tail and body. I've also seen some almost normal looking feces, quite rounded in nature, but still with the presences of a LARGE water mark that circles the fecal on the paper towel... Maybe there is improvement... Starling stated that bacterial infections have been around in some of her colonies, so maybe this is where we should now be looking. I still think that it had something to do with the shipment of crix, but there is nothing I can do about that now... So, life goes on. Anyway, wish you all the best of luck and I will keep you posted... Fecal number 4 comes up tomorrow morning. I will find this bug, if its the last thing I do...

See ya,
Richie

I do have to say I question that is a "some new virus" until ALL possible avenues of known infections to affect leopard geckos have been thoroughly investigated and eliminated. Partially because you can't treat a virus, and if there is a drug cure then it would be shame to have the animals be sick or die from something curable. Also because it is simply more likely that the infection is some known thing rather some brand new mystery thing. Don't give up. I STRONGLY recommend getting your vet to prescribe an orally dosed antibiotic for at least one leo and see what happens. Again, mine responded to Cefa-Drops (I believe this is Cefadroxil) with normal stools within 3 or 4 days. It is in the Cephalosporin family of antibiotics. It has a comparatively wide margin of safety compared to some other antibiotics. This is not the typical antibiotic that you would prescribe but there are reasons we tried it, and it worked. Baytril injections, on the other hand, which was my vet's first try, did not work, though on consultation with another vet I am told this is because the dosages were too far apart.

As to where the bacteria came from, who knows, I have had a closed colony for over a year. Maybe they got it from me. I've had a recurring bacterial sinus infection and strep. Though feeders can carry infections too. However I question this route because then I would think all my leos would have been sick, and it only affected one colony of four hets plus a couple individually housed females I had but in with my male, who turned out to be infected (he was with the infected colony). Nearby animals were completely unaffected. So the path of infection was very clear and non-airborne. It sounds like this is not the case in your situation.

Also, I have found it is essential to ISOLATE every animal (house it individually) during treatment), and of course sterilize environment and remove feces immediately.

Also you should know that a negative acid-fast stain does not eliminate crypto- due to the lifecycle of the organism, you will only get a positive result 1/4 of the time, as that is when the oocysts shed. As I understand it at least. If you lose another animal, a necropsy is the best way to confirm or eliminate whether it is crypto.

Good luck.