Reptile & Amphibian Forums

dwarf caiman, a guy on the croc forum is looking for help with a blood parasite that has caused anemia in his caiman. His vet is out of medication and can't get more, my sources are unaware of meds or complications from blood parasites in crocodilians.

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Chlorquin(e) is generally used to treat malaria. Has the exact parasite been defined by the vet? For example is it one of the following: haemorgregarines, plasmodium, haemoproteus or trypanosomiasis? Once the parasite(s) has been diagnosed, there may be a comparable medication that your vet may prescribe. You can either get it from the vet or have the prescription filled by an online-vet prescription company.

This person was given Chlorquin but his vet ran out and said he couldn't get more. The caiman isn't eating is the biggest problem and was said to be anemic. He didn't mention what kind of parasite other than an intercellular blood parasite.

So where can he get more Chlorquin?

thanks,
e

I would suggest finding a compounding pharmacy. Chlorquin is a human drug used to fight malaria in the past. Most strains of malaria are resistant to it now, so it isn't used much anymore. I think it's still fairly readily available in Australia, and a few other places like maybe Brazil. Not sure the problems with ordering drugs from overseas, but it might be worth a try, too. I'd just do an internet search on "Chlorquin", or "CHLORPROMAZINE" and see what comes up.

The most likely intracellular parasite in this case, I think, would be the coccidian Haemosporidia spp. That would warrant treatment with Chlorquin or a related anti-malarial.