Mike... I have had Klingenberg's "understanding Reptile Parasites" for many years. I just scanned the section on crypto, and find no mention of Flagyl. My edition is from 1993, so I don't know if there is a newer edition. However, since Flagyl was already commonly used for other treating other conditions in snakes (and is mentioned on the following page (p. 65, 66) for treating flagellates), if it was found to be useful in treating crypto, it should say so in my copy. I think it would be rather big news in the snake keeping community if Flagyl were suddenly to be found to cure crypto - and I find no evidence of this in print yet. Quote from my copy of "Understanding Reptile Parasites": "To date, cryptosporidiosis is thought to have no treatment." (p.65)... Medications listed are Trimethoprim-Sulfa - which Klingenberg states has not worked for him. And, "a mixture of A/D (Hills Foods) and lactated Ringer's solution" (p. 65) which he said he had used to "stabilize", not cure, infected animals.

I also have several other reptile medicine books, including Douglas Mader's "Reptile Medicine and Surgery - Second Edition", which I believe was a $150 book when I bought it a few years ago. This is a much more in-depth book (a real veterinary manual) with a large section devoted to crypto, and IMO is worth its price as well. I fail to see how one would catch crypto early - by the time a snake is showing symptoms, it is too late. Those symptoms being regurgitation, mid-body swelling, wasting away, diarrhea - all symptoms of well developed cryptosporidiosis. There is no mention of Flagyl being effective against crypto at any stage in this book - but several other medications hve been researched. None have shown to be a 100% cure. The most promising is hyperimmune bovine colostrum.

From what I understand from everything I have read and heard, crypto can go into sort of a remission, and the snake will not shed oocysts during this time - but the snake will most likely be a life-long carrier. Cryptosporidium is a very tough coccidian parasite - and there is very little which will actually even kill it. Strong UVA / UVB (sunlight), extreme dessication for 6 months (or more), extreme heat, and undiluted ammmonia are the only known "kills" I have heard about. Undiluted chlorine bleach does NOT even kill it...

-Toby


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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

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