Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wanted to know what to look for and what crypto causes.
thanks,
Ryan

Very nice picture! What is the locality of your boa?

I have a bit of recollection of cryptosporidium, but would like to do a search on the VIN first... I'll check back soon.

In the mean time, is there a reason for your concern?
Ian

The bottom line is that crypto sucks!

Not much is known about this disease, and I couldn't find any definitive papers on it. Here is what I gathered from some vet-to-vet discussions documented in the past five years...

Cryptosporidium is a species of coccidia that affects all reptiles. Different sub-species or strains affect tortoises, snakes, lizards ect. so transimission is less likely, but not impossible. It is very contagious via fecal/oral route to from snake to snake ect.

I couldn't find out if crypto is a large problem in the wild. It is likely to be present, but such research has not been done yet.

Immunocompromised individuals are more likely to by symptomatic, but again, hard data on mortality versus morbidity is lacking.

Crypto in snakes is often seen via a mid-body swelling, which is in fact the glandular tissues of the stomach/duodenum. It won't appear to be much on X-ray and needle aspirate probably won't reveal a fluid or air. Regurgitation is also a primary symptom.

There is no treatment for cryptosporidium in reptiles. If symptomatic and suffering, euthanize. If deemed crypto positive but still acting normal, then keep in isolation for life, or symptoms arise. Paromycin had some success in gila monsters... once. If your feeling experimental with your vet, and your snake isn't suffering unduly, perhaps try this. It would be a control, and not a cure if a success. Isolation is still paramount.

To diagnose crypto, acid fast staining of fresh fecal material can be sent to a pathology lab via your veterinary office. A positive is a positive, a negative will never be 100%. A serum analysis is in the works but the specificity and sensitivity is still questionable. The university of florida lab offers this, ask your vet. In a collection, post-mortems of any dead animals is priceless, for crypto information and other...

To prevent crypto: quarantine new animals. Perhaps get a fecal test done prior to releasing from quarantine. The only disinfectants proved to have some success against crypto occysts are formaldehyde and ammonia (I'm assuming quataunary ammonia will work but don't have a paper on it... Quatsyl). Use disposeable gloves when working with positive animals as both of these disinfectants are very harmfull on the skin. Bleach has been proven ineffective in an interesting study done back in 2001 I believe.

I hope this information is helpfull, I had fun researching it

If your snake is sick, take it to the vet and/or respond in this forum...

Ian

ps, in non-serpentia reptiles cryptosporidium is more prevalent in the caudal intestine. This means that regurgitation and stomach swelling is not seen, but soft stool, lethargy, and inappetence are more common.

That boa is a San Diego coastal rosy boa. Its a captive bred adult male, and its my favorite snake in my collection.
thanks again,
ryan