Difference between revisions of "Lizard Endoparasites"

Revision as of 17:52, 2 April 2010

Endoparasites

Lizards, especially wild caught specimens, will harbour parasites:

Protozoa (amoeba, coccidia, flagellates (Hexamita, Trichomonads, Giardia and Leptomonas), ciliates)
Metazoan parasites (e.g. nematodes, cestodes)

Clinical signs of amoebiasis include anorexia, wasting and dehydration. However as the parasite colonizes the animal's organs such as the liver and kidney, it may cause necrosis and abscess formation.

Diagnosis - Routine faecal examinations and worming should be part of a standard quarantine procedure or part of regular examinations.

Prevention - Quarantine, correct husbandry, and preventive medicine (e.g. regular faecal testing).

Treatment

Any parasite found in captive reptiles should be treated, especially those with direct life cycles, since the stress of captivity can weaken the immune system. Poor husbandry facilitates the build up of direct cycle parasites and parasitised lizards have a shorter life span and tend to be more susceptible to disease.

Flagellates

Metronidazole 100mg/kg PO, repeat in 2 weeks

Coccidia

Sulphadiazine, sulphamerazine, sulphamethazine 25mg/kg PO daily for 21 days, recheck faeces in 3 weeks
Trimethoprim/sulphamerazine 30mg/kg daily for 2 doses, then every second day for 3 weeks, recheck faeces in 3 weeks

Nematodes

Ivermectin 200-400ìg/kg PO or SC, repeat in 2 weeks
Oxfendazole 3ml/kg PO
Fenbendazole - 50-100mg/kg PO, repeat fortnightly until negative faecal examination
Levamisole 10mg/kg ICo, repeat in 2 weeks

Cestodes

Praziquantel 8-10mg/kg IM once

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 {{review}}
-==Introduction==
-Gastrointestinal parasites are commonly seen in reptiles brought into a veterinary hospital, particularly in imported and wild caught specimens. Reptiles can serve as both definitive and intermediate hosts for several species of parasites. However, the ones which cause the most concern to veterinarians are nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, and protozoans, for whom lizards are definitive hosts, leading to shedding of the parasites through the gastrointestinal tract.
 ==Endoparasites==
-* Protozoa: amoeba, coccidia, flagellates (''Hexamita'', ''Trichomonads'', ''Giardia'' and ''Leptomonas''), ciliates.
-* Metazoan parasites: nematodes, cestodes
+Lizards, especially wild caught specimens, will harbour parasites:
+* Protozoa (amoeba, coccidia, flagellates (Hexamita, Trichomonads, Giardia and Leptomonas), ciliates)
+* Metazoan parasites (e.g. nematodes, cestodes)
-Nematodes are frequently encountered during routine fecal examinations . The most common parasites is the pinworm (e.g., oxyurids) which are usually nonpathogenic. However, heavy burdens may lead to clinical disease. Furthermore, oxyurids have a direct life cycle and can reach high numbers within the colon, particularly in herbivorous iguanids, putting the lizard at high risk for impaction.
+'''Clinical signs''' of amoebiasis include anorexia, wasting and dehydration. However as the parasite colonizes the animal's organs such as the liver and kidney, it may cause necrosis and abscess formation.
-===Clinical signs===
+'''Diagnosis''' - Routine faecal examinations and worming should be part of a standard [[Lizard and Snake Quarantine|quarantine]] procedure or part of regular examinations.
-Clinical signs of amoebiasis include anorexia, pica, prolapse, regurgitation, wasting, dehydration, constipation, weight loss, and lethargy. However as the parasite colonizes the animal's organs, such as the liver and kidney, it may cause necrosis and abscess formation.
-===Diagnosis===
+'''Prevention''' - [[Lizard and Snake Quarantine|Quarantine]], correct husbandry, and [[Preventive medicine|preventive medicine]] (e.g. regular faecal testing).
-Routine faecal examinations and worming should be part of a standard [[Lizard and Snake Quarantine|quarantine]] procedure or part of regular examinations.
-===Prevention===
+===Treatment===
-Quarantine all new reptiles in separate areas for at least three months. Perform regular veterinary examinations, screens and faecal testing during quarantine and at regular intervals. Record normal patterns of eating, defaecating, weight gain and behaviour for each individual. Provide optimum species-specific husbandry.
-==Treatment==
 Any parasite found in captive reptiles should be treated, especially those with direct life cycles, since the stress of captivity can weaken the [[Lizard and Snake Immune System|immune system]]. Poor husbandry facilitates the build up of direct cycle parasites and parasitised lizards have a shorter life span and tend to be more susceptible to disease.
 ====Flagellates====
-* Metronidazole PO, repeat in 2 weeks
+* Metronidazole 100mg/kg PO, repeat in 2 weeks
 ====Coccidia====
-* Sulphadiazine, sulphamerazine, sulphamethazine PO daily for 21 days, recheck faeces in 3 weeks
+* Sulphadiazine, sulphamerazine, sulphamethazine 25mg/kg PO daily for 21 days, recheck faeces in 3 weeks
-* Trimethoprim/sulphamerazine daily for 2 doses, then every second day for 3 weeks, recheck faeces in 3 weeks
+* Trimethoprim/sulphamerazine 30mg/kg daily for 2 doses, then every second day for 3 weeks, recheck faeces in 3 weeks
 ====Nematodes====
-* Ivermectin PO or SC, repeat in 2 weeks
+* Ivermectin 200-400ìg/kg PO or SC, repeat in 2 weeks
-* Oxfendazole PO
+* Oxfendazole 3ml/kg PO
-* Fenbendazole PO, repeat fortnightly until negative faecal examination
+* Fenbendazole - 50-100mg/kg PO, repeat fortnightly until negative faecal examination
-* Levamisole ICo, repeat in 2 weeks
+* Levamisole 10mg/kg ICo, repeat in 2 weeks
 ====Cestodes====
-* Praziquantel IM once
+* Praziquantel 8-10mg/kg IM once
-==Literature Search==
-[[File:CABI logo.jpg|left|90px]]
-Use these links to find recent scientific publications via CAB Abstracts (log in required unless accessing from a subscribing organisation).
-<br><br><br>
-[http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=((title:(Endoparasites)+AND+ab:(Endoparasites)))+AND+((((title:(lizard)+OR+ab:(lizard)+OR+od:(lizards))))) Lizards Endoparasites publications]
-[http://www.cabi.org/cabdirect/FullTextPDF/2009/20093118403.pdf ''' Reptile parasitology: what is that and how do I treat that?''' Wright, K.; The North American Veterinary Conference, Gainesville, USA, Small animal and exotics. Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando, Florida, USA, 17-21 January, 2009, 2009, pp 1817-1821 - '''Full Text Article''']
 [[Category:Lizard_Gastrointestinal_Diseases|E]]