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My vet told me they found pinworms in Lisa's stool sample. I just started administering her medicine on Friday, so yesterday she started shedding the worms and blood in her poop. But I can actually see the worms. They were skinny, white worms. One of them measured just under one centimeter. (Yeesh, and people worry about sand causing impaction.) From what I'm reading in my books, they sound more like roundworms than pinworms. Is it possible that the vet tech misidentified the eggs, or could Lisa have both parasites without showing symptoms?

This is so aggravating. I have eight very healthy-looking leos, but all of them have something except for the three hatchlings. Caesar's the only one who came up with clear fecal results, but I still can't be sure. Anyway, the hatchlings are Lisa's daughters, so I'm wondering if maybe they have something too. I know in puppies, roundworms can spread from a mom to her puppies before they've even been born. Is this possible with leopard geckos?
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chickabowwow

3.2.3 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)

If the pinworms are visible in the feces, then they are of the insect variey and pose no health risks to your gecko even though they must still be treated. These pinworms are commonly found in crickets and other insect feeders, and are difficult to avoid. The type of pinworm that can do harm to your gecko is not visible to the eye, and can only be diagnosed microscopically either through a direct smear or flotation fecal exam.

Reference: Dr. Frederic L. Frye, "The Bad Bug Book."
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com

In addition to what Marcia posted, you're alright either way. Panacur is used to treat both pins and roundworms and it's apparently working. I don't remember ever seeing them in my geckos' feces when I was treating, but that's not to say it wasn't there. I don't make it a practice of looking. I just gave them new fecals as treatment went along. The oocysts from Pinworms and Roundworms do look a little alike, and in my (uneducated) opinion, they could have been mistaken expecially if they were only a tech. It all depends on their level of experience.

I'm sure they will anyway, but make sure you get another fecal after treatment is through to verify the absence of oocysts.

Good luck
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Rob Jenkins
Have you seen the GeckoCam?
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I'm thinking about taking a sample of the worms to the vet just to find out exactly what they are. The medicine is working, but I still want to know what I'm dealing with.
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chickabowwow

3.2.3 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)

Crickets put out a lot of eggs, and yes they *do* look like worms in the poo. I found them too but under a microscope they were clearly cricket eggs.

Roundworms and other worms *crawl" about, and not straight things.

Diagnosis of pinworms is by fecal flotation--you can see the eggs under microscopy.

JadeFox

I re-read your post and realized you have taken your gecko to the Vet... sorry! I am posting my response in case it is of value to others:

I might expect some blood in the stool, especially with roundworms or hookworms, but not with "visible" pinworms. The type of pinworm (if it IS a pinworm) that poses health risks to Leopard Geckos is not visible to the naked eye. Pinworms that are contracted from crickets and other insect prey, or rodent prey, are visible... they look like tiny little grains of rice, do not pose a health risk for Leos even though they do need to be treated with Panacur.

Roundworms and Hookworms pose a greater threat to Leopard Geckos. Keep in mind that I am NOT a vet, and cannot diagnose these things, but what you are describing sounds a lot like Hookworms. They can build up to tremendous loads in a relatively short time, and can be found anywhere in the GI system of the gecko. They will continue to lay eggs, and require multiple treatments of Panacur over a period of several weeks to kill the newly hatched larvae. Hookworms are highly contageous, and have a direct life cycle which means they can continue to be re-introduced to the Leo's system through their drinking water and/or contact with feces. They pose a serious health risk by attaching themselves to the intestinal wall and feed on blood, which can cause many problems such as:
- hemorrhagic ulcers
- severe imflammation
- anemia from loss of blood
- peritonitis

Only a veterinarian can accurately diagnose the type of parasite you are dealing with, and prescribe the proper concentration and doseage of Panacur.
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Marcia McGuiness
Golden Gate Geckos
www.goldengategeckos.com