Page 11 - Parasites in pet reptiles

Rataj et al. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2011, 53:33 Page 9 of 20
http://www.actavetscand.com/content/53/1/33

Figure 1 Kalicephalus sp. invasion in Corn Snake (Elaphe
guttata).
Figure 3 Pentastomida invasion (Porocephalus crotali)(female
head) in Platyceps karelini.
mite infestation, which can also lead to haemorrhagic sep-
ticaemia that is usually fatal. Another author described
found were up to one cm long, white, with characteristic
papulo-vesicular eruptions of the skin in man [19].
oesophagus with bulbous end (Figure 11). They have a
In one Ball Python Amblyomma sp. ticks were
direct life cycle [23]. Lizards living in captivity in small
determined.
enclosures can re-infect themselves over and over again,
which causes the worms to multiply much faster than in
Lizards
the wild.
The most frequent parasites found in lizards (Table 5)
Klingenberg [23] mentioned that mouse pinworms are
were Oxyurid nematoda in 57.1%. We confirmed these
also often seen in reptile excrements, but these parasites
parasites in 15 different species of lizards, most fre-
do not cause diseases in reptiles.
quently in Chinese Water Dragons (80.0%), Spiny-tailed
It is important to distinguish between pinworm eggs
Lizards (75.2%), Green Iguanas 73.1%, (Figure 9) and
and eggs of mice mites. In our research the eggs of
Leopard Geckos (55.2%) (Figure 10). Two different
mice mites were seen more often than pinworm eggs in
shapes of pinworm eggs were seen. One of them was
reptiles eating rodents.
Pharyngodon sp. while we could not identify other Oxy-
Strongylid nematoda were confirmed in eight different
urid eggs.
species of lizard (in 11.8%), most frequently in Black
Pinworms are common in the distal part of the intes-
Agamas in 40.0% (2/5) and Spiny-tailed Lizards in 21.4%
tine, especially in lizards and turtles. Adults that we
(27/126).
Nyctotherus sp. was determined only in Uromastyx
species. Spiny-tailed Lizards (Uromastyx hardwickii and

Figure 2 Pentastomida invasion (Porocephalus crotali)in
Platyceps karelini. Figure 4 Pentastomida (Porocephalus crotali) embryonated egg.