Page 14 - Parasites in pet reptiles

Rataj et al. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2011, 53:33 Page 12 of 20
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Figure 13 Miracidium in the egg of Trematoda in Leopard
Gecko (Eublepharis macularius).
Figure 15 Invasion with ascarid nematoda in Monitor (Varanus
niloticus) - intestine.
morphology is described by several authors. McAllister
et al. described more than 40 species in genus Oochoris-
oocysts in the faeces of clinically healthy Monitors. The
tica in lizards throughout the word [23,31,33,34].
source of infection was infected mice, in which oocysts
Acanthocephala larvae (Figures 38, 39, 40 and 41),
were confirmed and clinical signs were present. That
were about 1 cm long and seen only in the coelomic
indicates a potential risk for humans.
cavity mostly on intestine serosa. Monitors, Spiny-tailed
Among Apicomplexa Isospora (Figure 42) and Eimeria
Lizards and one Black Agama were invaded. We can
(Figure 43) were determined in low percentage (0.9 and
conclude that these reptiles are paratenic hosts in which
0.6%). Other authors [1,33] describe these parasites in
larvae are frequently encysted in tissue. We could not
much higher percentages. Motile protozoans Trichomo-
find any clinical signs of disease. Similar findings are
nadidae were found in two lizards. Capillaria sp. eggs,
described by Beck and Pantchev [25].
Strongyloides eggs and Heterakidae were detected only
Cryptosporidiosis in companion and captive exotic
in one case.
animals has received particular attention in recent years
Two geckos had Trombiculid mites (Geckobia sp.)
due to the public health concerns. Among the exotic
around the eyes (Figure 44).
animals cryptosporidiosis in snakes and lizards is a
chronic life threatening disease [28,35]. Traversa et al.
Turtles
[28] described the zoonotic genotype in the faeces of
The most frequent parasites found in turtles (Table 6)
captive European tortoises. In our research we found
wereOxyuridnematodain81.8%(Figure45).Wecon-
firmed these parasites in 10 different species of turtles,

Figure 14 Invasion with ascarid nematoda in Monitor (Varanus Figure 16 Ascarideggin LeopardGecko (Eublepharis
niloticus) - stomach. macularius).