Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Could someone please help me identify in the two photos what these are, located here:

http://www.a-web-design.com/fecal/fecal1.jpg

http://www.a-web-design.com/fecal/fecal2.jpg

Both are from a marginata tortoise.
Thank you,
Lori

What magnification were these photos taken at, to give me some idea of the size. At first glance, it looks like it may possibly be larvae of the trichocephaloid Sauricola sauricola (anterior end of larvae and embryonated ova)....not sure though.

The magnification was 100x.
Could you give me the "layman's" term for your identification please. I tried looking this up to no avail.
Your assistance is appreciated.
Lori

Well, it's not a positive ID...I really would need to see more. Was that the only two things you found in the float?

One problem is that it looks like the worm you photographed didn't really take the stain very well and appears just slightly out of focus, and the (possible) ova could be just the shell of a hatched ova with some piece of artifact material stuck to it. It's also slightly out of focus. Sometimes you will need to focus up and down through the specimen and get pictures of (or examine) different planes because the depth of field is so shallow.

Is the tortoise wild-caught or captive bred?

Thrichocephaloidia are a superfamily of nematodes sometimes found in reptiles. Sauricola sp. are sometimes found in tortoises. The specimen you showed at least superficially resembles the anterior end of them.

The thing that is puzzling me a little bit is that it's sort of unusual to find larvae or adult worms in fecal floats except for strongyloids and oxyuroids. Not impossible of course, but unusual. That worm in the photo could also be Mehdiella cordata, a relatively common oxyurid in wild caught tortoises.

I can't really make a positive ID based on those two photos, though. I don't have that much experience with the parasites of tortoises, I mostly spend my time looking at snake parasites. It's just that at first glance, that's what it made me think of. Maybe someone else could make a more positive ID.

The tort is CB and the 2 photos I posted gave me cause for concern. No stain was used.
I am very new to looking at parasites and am trying to gain as much knowledge as possible so I can better understand what I am seeing and dealing with. What I have seen is there is significant differences in the photos of different reptile species, from that of torts, so I believe I too am getting more confused.
It would be helpful to have a book on ONLY, "tort parasites" as well as "things that should not concern you that you see under a microscope"The books I have are of all reptiles. Very good books, but it is still a guessing game. I was told I would be confused ... and I am.
I agree, it is slightly out of focus due to the fact that I did not use an adapter...I simply took the shot with my digital held up to the eye lens.
I will get another sample from "buster" and run this again within the next couple days. I believe another vet visit is in order.
Thanks so much for your help.
Lori

Try staining the next sample with some Iodine. I do my flotations in Fecalyzer kits. When I put the feces sample in the Fecalyzer, I add a couple of CC's of Fecasol flotation medium and 6 drops of Lugol's Solution (strong iodine solution) agitate it, and let it sit for a minute or two. Then I go ahead and fill the container to the top with Fecasol and form a meniscus, then float a cover slip on it for 20 minutes. It seems to really take the stain well that way.

Thank you.
I will try iodine on the next sample then take some additional photos.
I do my flotation the same as you except I am using a zinc sulfate solution instead of the fecasol solution.
Thank you again for your time and assistance.
Lori