That is some excellent information you have given me, even with the new additional information that I just got. I originally posted this while at work where the water snake is, and I had to wait to get home to look at a new book I just got, Self Assessment Color Review of Reptiles and Amphibians by Frye and Williams.
Interestingly, Frye uses the same picture in this book as he does in his reptiles surgery book I referenced before. In this case he actually explains the condition and the treatment. He states that the cestode should be removed and the host treated with praziquantel. He also goes on to explain the lifecycle of the parasite, obviously having a recently wild caught water snake would explain why it would be infested.
This is a perfect example of research paying off. Even with my limited medical knowledge, I constantly look through literature for information. In the case of the difficult to read Frye books, I simply look at the pictures and the captions to get an idea of what can happen. For some reason the picture of this parasite was very easy for me to recall as I was pulling one out of the snake that I have, and was able to go right to the picture in the book.
Thanks for the information oldherper, I will pass this information along to the vet who will be coming in on Monday.
>>This would indicate the presence under the skin (subcutaneous) of the host (the water snake) of a cestode parasite called plerocercus. This is a cestode in which the posterior forms a bladder or blastocyst into which the rest of the body can withdraw (invaginated scolex). They form a cyst under the skin of the host animal. To positively identify this as the cause of the cyst would require surgical removal of the worm and identification. These are normally found in fish, but could also be found in water dwelling reptiles.
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*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.
".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)
