Cryptosprodium in Snakes

Hey all,

It's been a while since I've last visited. My Medusa is doing great.

But my question is for another snake I have just acquired. I adopted a glossy snake (Arizona elegans) from my school the other day to try and have her treated for Cryptosporidium at the animal hospital that I work at. It's a protozoan parasite, and her fecal has tested positive for having crypto. I know it's contagious to other snakes and reptiles, so I have removed my ball python Medusa from my house for now and she is staying over with a good friend of mine until I can try to get rid of this crypto in the glossy snake.

Does anyone know anything about cryptosporidium in snakes and how to treat it? My veternarian does see snakes, but he doesn't know that much about the parasite and I am trying to collect as much information as possible. It seems easier to treat in lizards than in snakes. =(

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Here you go...I think your vet will need to read these are some of the articles are very advanced. There is a treatment but it isn't an open/shut one.


http://www.anapsid.org/cryptosporidium.html

I do know that this bug is transmittable to humans so proper hygiene is required.

Good Luck...keep us posted

So far this has been very little progress in the treatment of Crypto in reptiles. Some promising work has been done with Bovine Colostrum, but at this point, there is not much you can do other than quarantine and keeping things clean and sanitized. Does the snake you adopted show any symptoms of Crypto such as vomiting, lethargy or mid body swelling? See the following link for some more info:

http://www.indigosnakes.com/Reptilian%20Crypto.htm

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Here you go...I think your vet will need to read these are some of the articles are very advanced. There is a treatment but it isn't an open/shut one.


http://www.anapsid.org/cryptosporidium.html

I do know that this bug is transmittable to humans so proper hygiene is required.

Good Luck...keep us posted

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I try not to quote anything that Kraplan posts. Her opinion has very little value in the reptile community. :eek:

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I try not to quote anything that Kraplan posts. Her opinion has very little value in the reptile community. :eek:

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Normally I agree...in this case it just seemed she collected a bunch of scientific articles...and didn't spout off too much. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

Normally I agree...in this case it just seemed she collected a bunch of scientific articles...and didn't spout off too much. :D

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:D

I wouldn't have that infected snake anywhere within miles of my home if I already have a healthy snake. It cannot be treated. Best to euthanize the snake and hope your actions don't get your healthy snake infected.

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Originally Posted by Flagg

I wouldn't have that infected snake anywhere within miles of my home if I already have a healthy snake. It cannot be treated. Best to euthanize the snake and hope your actions don't get your healthy snake infected.

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EDIT: Nevermind I see she just got it.:D

As what I've read and know about it, it is VERY hard if not just about impossible to cure. I know people who have had this bug usually just end up putting the animal down. In this case you may really want to think about it.