Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today just because I caught a fresh poop I checked my CBB BRB who is 8 months old. I cannot find my reptile parasite book but did find some type of parasite. I think one is possibly crypto, it looked smaller than a regular coccidia under 400x. I only did a float. Some other type of ova is present in significant numbers. They are elongated ovals that look similar to a canine whipworm if the football shape was stretches a little longer and the ends were a bit flattened. They were 5 to 7 times as long as they were wide, there were 3 to 5 per hpf.

My BRB is not ill and this was a random check. She eats well and is growing well. Both the parents have been checked 5 or 6 times and I have found nothing. The adults have not been checked in about 10 months or longer.

I feed fresh killed mice/rats.

I have access to veterinary wormers and was wondering what be best to use.

I have read the suggestions of centrifuge and Lugol's and will do thes things next sample. I will also axiously await more poop from the entire collection to check.

I also have a poosible gravid female and wondered if I need to treat her immediately or wait for a sample. It may be 5 months before she defecates again.

Thank you,
Linda
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

Linda,
Approximately what size was the object you thought might be crypto. Just curious, as crypto oocysts are extremely small (3 to 5 um) and very difficult to see unstained, even under 400x. Although better methods are available, we always used the simpler carbol-fuchsin acid fast procedure that would stain the oocysts a bright pinkish-red and make them highly visible. As far as the other larger ova you were seeing, if your other snakes are showing clean and asymptomatic, I would run a fecal on the mice also. Sometimes mammalian prey parasite ova pass harmlessly through the snake undamaged and show up in their feces. Just a thought.

Kelly

Thanks

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I have serious doubts that what you saw was Crypto. For one thing, yu wouldn't likely see it at 400x. For another, it takes specialized staining processes to make it show up under a microscope.

I would seriously discourage treating with anything until you positively identify what you are treating for. There are many, many variables involved. Some drugs are unsafe for certain species, but safe for others. One drug is not going to eliminate everything, so you need to know for sure which drug to use and how to dose it. Some drugs are extremely dangerous if improperly dosed.

There are certain parasites that your snake can have that will require no treatment because even though they are present in the snake, they do not cause disease in snakes. One example is mouse pinworms. You may find ova for them in a fecal float, but they came from a mouse the snake ate and pose no danger to the snake. Others that may be present can cause disease in the snake if they are present in large numbers, but smaller numbers do not require treatment.

There are other artifact items that you can find in a float that will be mistaken for parasite evidence if you don't know what you are looking at.

I have three bits of advice for you:
1. Take a sample to a vet and have it properly analyzed.
2. Start feeding frozen/thawed mice.
3. Make sure that your cage sanitation routines are sufficient. There are many parasites with a direct life-cycle that can build up in horrific concentrations if cage cleaning requirements are not met.

I am fairly new to reptiles so it worried me to find so many ova in my little one. I have now positively identified the pinworms and will no longer be concerned about them. If I was not likely to have found crypto than I must assume they were coccidia, just smaller than we commonly find in dogs and cats.

As for your advise, I have carefully considered it. I think you present a valid point with the frozen meals. I am aware of the pros/cons of using this method and now, more than ever before, I see I may not be doing the very best thing.

Locally there is not a vet who I am aware of that specializes or has much experience with reptiles. I would have to drive at least 4 hours. I am not willing at this time to do so since my snakes are not presenting as ill. I did my own fecal because I have 19 1/2 years of experience in examining stool samples, and although I do not know so much about reptiles, I am confident in identification of ova from artifact.

I choose to monitor the stools, checking them more frequently and employing a staining process. I do not believe sanitation to to be factor in my situation.

Thanks again,
Linda

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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer