Lizard Endoparasites

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