Reptilian Parasites

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Reptilian Parasites

• Adriana Roman-Muniz
• Kathryn Fink

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Wild Reptiles

• Normally, reptiles living in natural settings are
  not severely affected by parasitism due to their
  self limiting nature and their nomadic lifestyles

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Reptiles in the Captive Setting

• These animals are at increased risk of being
  heavily infested due to
• Limited Space
• Substrate and Diet problems
• Heat and Light inadequacy
• Stress

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Parasites Captivity Stress

• Disease Potential

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External Parasites

• Mites
• Ticks

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External Parasites

• Are able to Accumulate
• Under the scales
• In the postorbital area
• In the labial pits
• In the skin folds of the vent area

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Problems with Accumulation of External Parasites

• Anemia
• Damage to scales that may predispose for
  secondary skin infections
• Periorbital inflammation
• Depression and Anorexia
• Signs related to blood borne infection (IBD)
• Difficulty Shedding
• Death

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External Parasites - Mites (Acariasis)

• 250 species
• Feed on blood that then allows them to transform
  from one stage to the next of the life cycle
• Optimal conditions include both high humidity and
  heat

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External Parasites - Ticks

• Nuisance and significant source of disease
• Are often associated with blood borne infections
• Tend to hide under scales, around the eyes, and
  near the vent

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Treatment for External Parasites

• Manual removal
• Gentle bathing
• Rinsing of the animal
• Soaking to drown mites/ticks
• Thorough cage cleaning with soapy water and bleach

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Drug Treatment Choices for External Parasites

• Ivermectin
• 0.02 cc/kg per os
• Is approximately 1 drop orally per pound once
  every two weeks
• Dilute for a spray formulation 1 cc (5 mg) in
  one quart
• Administered every 4-5 days for a 3 week time
  period

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Drug Treatment Choices for External Parasites

• No Pest Strips
• Dichlorvos
• Great for individual animals
• 3 hour exposure time 2-3 times per week for 3
  weeks
• Important to have adequate ventilation

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Drug Treatment Choices for External Parasites

• Trichlorfon Spray
• 0.16 solution
• Clean the cage, set up as desired, spray and then
  let dry completely
• Then completely mist animal, withhold access to
  water for 24 hours
• Second treatment in 10-14 days
• Geckos are extremely sensitive!

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Internal Parasites

• Nematodes
• Protozoans
• Cestodes
• Trematodes

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Internal Parasites - Nematodes

• Over 500 identified
• Most occur in the GI tract
• Congregations in large numbers can cause
• Organ obstruction
• Loss of nutrients
• Destruction of tissues
• Secondary bacterial infections

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Internal Parasites - Nematodes

• Roundworms (Ophiascaris in snakes Sulcascaris in
  chelonians)
• Acquired through ingesting intermediate hosts
• Commonly cause 2 malnutrition
• Lead to purulent, ulcerative, and inflammatory
  lesions and different sites of the body due to
  larval migration
• Diagnosis thick walled egg on fecal flotation
  and characteristic worms in feces

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Roundworm Egg
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Internal Parasites - Nematodes

• Hookworms (Kalicephalus in snakes Oswalsocruzia
  in lizards)
• Larvae penetrate the skin or can be ingested
• Feed on blood from the GI tract and results in
  ulcers, inflammation, anemia, peritonitis and
  secondary bacterial infections
• Diagnosis thin walled oval eggs on fecal
  flotation and often bloody /- mucus laden stool

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Hookworm Egg
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Internal Parasites - Nematode

• Pinworms (Oxyurus)
• Common in lizards and turtles
• Exposure to contaminated food and water
• Usually causes no overt disease
• Diagnosis eggs on fecal flotation

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Internal Parasites - Nematodes

• Stomach worms (Physaloptera)
• Exclusively in lizards
• Ants are the intermediate host
• Cause GI inflammation and obstruction
• Diagnosis eggs on fecal flotation

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Internal Parasites Nematodes

• Lungworms (Rhabdias in snakes Entomelas in
  lizards)
• Percutaneous penetration by larvae or by
  ingestion of contaminated food and water
• Verminous Pneumonia in heavily infested or
  stressed animals
• Diagnosis eggs on fecal flotation

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Internal Parasites - Nematodes

• Strongyloides
• Cause GI irritation and diarrhea
• Infected through percutaneous penetration by
  larvae or oral ingestion
• Respiratory distress may occur occasionally due
  to larval migration through the lungs
• Diagnosis larvae presence in fresh feces

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Internal Parasites - Nematodes

• Hepatic Worms (Capillaria)
• Found in lizards and snakes
• Acquired by ingestion of intermediate host
• Reduce hepatic function is observed with heavy
  parasite loads
• Diagnosis operculated eggs in fecal floats

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Internal Parasites - Nematodes

• Filarial Nematodes (Oswaldofilaria)
• RARE
• Transmitted by arthropods or mosquitos
• They live within the hosts blood stream
• They have variable effects on the host
• Diagnosis filarial worms found on blood smears

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Internal Parasites - Protozoans

• Amebiasis
• Entamoeba invadens
• Acquired by ingestion leads to infection, death
  or carrier status
• Giant tortoise is very susceptible
• Cause amoebic dysentery
• Diagnosis amoeba, uninucleated trophozoites or
  multi-nucleated cysts in fresh stool plus
  mucus-laden, bile stained, /- bloody stools

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Internal Parasites - Protozoan

• Coccidia (Eimeria, Isospora)
• Ingested of contaminated water and food and also
  from the environment as possible infection
• Symptoms vary from mild diarrhea to death
• Diagnosis oocysts of fresh stool samples

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Coccidia oocyst
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Internal Parasites - Protozoans

• Cryptosporidiosis
• Seen in immunocompromised individuals most
  commonly, ZOONOTIC potential
• Affected can become carriers and the possibility
  of shedding for one year or more
• Acquired by exposure to the sporulated oocysts,
  mice are asymptomatic carriers
• GI irritation, vomiting/regurgitation, mid-body
  firm mass, death is common
• Diagnosis oocysts on direct smears, difficult
  (acid fast organism)

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Internal Parasites - Protozoans

• Flagellates
• Controversy over whether it is a normal flora or
  a true pathogen?
• Acquired through exposure to infective cysts and
  food and water and also during copulation
• Variable effects
• Diagnosis Direct smear, helps to use Lugols
  iodine

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Internal Parasites - Cestodes

• Tapeworms
• Ingestion of a vertebrate or mammalian
  intermediate host
• In large s they can cause secondary
  malnutrition, inflammation, enteritis, and
  mechanical obstruction
• Diagnosis eggs on fecal flotation, detection of
  proglottids in stool, visibly seeing a tapeworm
  passed

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Tapeworm Egg
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Internal Parasites - Trematodes

• Flukes
• Most often observed in snakes
• Acquired through ingestion of an intermediate
  host (snails)
• Found in the oral cavity, respiratory system, or
  in superficial tissues but rarely cause any
  damage
• Diagnosis observing adult flukes in the mouth,
  cloaca, or feces. Fluke eggs are large,
  yellow-brown eggs with a solitary operculum at
  one end

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Flukes
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Treatment for Internal Parasites

• Panacur (25-50 mg/kg PO, 1 time weekly for 2-3
  treatments)
• Nematodes Roundworms, Hookworms, Pinworms,
  Stomach worms, Strongyloides, Hepatic worms and
  one treatment option for Lungworms

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Treatment for Internal Parasites

• Ivermectin (0.02 mg/kg oral) every two weeks for
  a total of 2-3 treatments
• Lungworms
• Filarial nematodes

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Treatment for Internal Parasites

• Protozoans
• Amebiasis
• Flagyl (Metronidazole)
• 25-50 mg/kg orally once daily for 5-10 days
• Coccidia
• Sulfadiamethoxine
• 50 mg/kg daily for 3 days
• Then administer every 48 hours as needed to cure

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Treatment for Internal Parasites

• Protozoans
• Cryptosporidiosis
• Supportive care is essential
• Possibly trimethoprim sulfa
• Euthanasia
• Flagellates
• Metronidazole
• 25-50 mg/kg once and then in 3-4 days as needed

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Treatment for Internal Parasites

• Cestodes
• Tapeworms
• Praziquantel
• 5 mg/kg orally
• Repeat in 2 weeks

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Treatment for Internal Parasites

• Trematodes
• Flukes
• Praziquantel
• 5-8 mg/kg

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Subcutaneous Parasites

• Usually found as a lump just under the skin
• Included most commonly is a plerocercoid stage of
  some tapeworm and occasionally a misguided
  pentastomid
• Treatment includes
• Physical removal
• Flushing
• Systemic Antibiotics

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Important Hygiene Factors

• Prevent fecal accumulation
• Cleanliness is essential
• Prevent exposure to contaminated water
• Dont allow for musical food
• Provide adequate quarantine protocol
• Maintain adequate personal hygiene

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References

• Klingenberg, R.J. Understanding Retile
  Parasites. 1993. Lakeside, CA. Advanced Vivarium
  Systems.
• www.cuttingedgeherp.com/reptiles
• www.gotsetonline.com
• www.spottedcats.com/parasite/
• Special thanks to Jennifer Periat for once again
  the use of her reptiles pictures!