Reptile Parasites

• Intestinal Nematodes

  Hookworms, roundworms and strongyloides have been the most commonly encountered intestinal nematodes we've seen to date.

  Hookworms have a direct life cycle and are transmitted by larvae that can penetrate the skin or by ingestion of fecally contaminated food and water. They can be found anywhere in the host from the esophagus to the rectum. They attach themselves along the intestinal lining and feed on the host's blood. If left untreated, hemorrhagic ulcers, inflammation, anemia, peritonitis, and secondary bacterial infections can result. Symptoms include lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, and blood or mucus-laden feces. They are identified by fecal floats.

  Roundworms have an indirect life cycle and are transmitted by an intermediate host. They are a passive parasite that can be found in the GI tract and absorb up to 40% of the host's usable nutrients. In fresh imports that are stressed and not eating well, the loss of these nutrients can be fatal. Impactions of the GI tact, bile ducts, and pancreactic ducts can result in large numbers if left untreated. The larvae migrate through various organs which can result in lesions susceptible to secondary bacterial infections. They can be indentified by fecal floats or visually as round, white worms up to 6 inches in length.

  Strongyloides have a direct life cycle and can be transmitted by precutaneous penetration and ingestion of fecally contaminated food and water. They can be found primarily in the GI tract, but the larvae migrate through the lungs of the host during this part of their life cycle. If left untreated, dehydration from diarrhea, respiratory distress, and anorexia can be fatal in stressed wild caught reptiles. Symptoms include lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, diarrhea, mucus-laden feces, and respiratory distress. They can be identified by finding the larvae in fresh (minutes old) fecal floats.

• Flagellates

  Giardia is the most commonly encountered flagellate with hexamita being a close second. They have direct life cycles and are transmitted by ingestion of infective cysts in fecally contaminated food and water. Symptoms include lethargy, anorexia, and weight loss. They are identified by direct fecal smears.

• Cestodes

  Tapeworms have an indirect life cycle and they are transmitted by an intermediate host.

  This article is currently being written.

• Protozoans

  Coccidia

  Coccidia are a microscopic one-celled organism that are classified as protozoa. This parasite lives within the cells of the intestinal lining and commonly cause diarrhea, bleeding from the digestive system, metabolic poisoning, malnutrition, anemia, lethargy, etc. The most common strains of coccidia found are Isospora and Eimeria.

  Animals become infected with coccidia through digestion of contaminated food or water. Oocysts (immature coccidia) are passed in the feces of the host. They lie in the environment and sporulate (mature) into a more developed oocyst, which can infect the animal(s) again. This process can occur in as little as 6 hours, but it usually takes 7-10 days. If the oocysts are swallowed, they mature in the animal's intestine to complete the life cycle. This can happen from insects running through contaminated feces so be sure to clean as much feces as possible from the cage before offering any food.

  The first noticeable symptom of elevated coccidia levels is usually a distinctly strong odor produced in the feces, runny or loose stool, a mucas-like film on the feces, blood in the feces, and the most common effect is a loss of appetite.

The above information was compiled and written by Ivan Alfonso D.V.M. & Ronnie Buck of CricketFood.com