Transcript Gastric cryptosporidiosis in snakes

Snakes With Gastric
Lesions
L.J. Venter
South Africa
Cases

January 30, 2003



February 20, 2003



Elaphe obsolete quadrivittata
Yellow Rat Snake
Pseudaspis cana
Mole snake
August 14, 2003


Elaphe guttata guttata
Corn snake
Environment

Display snakes



Behind glass
NO mixed snake/other herptile exhibits
Non-Display snakes


Plastic boxes
Recessed cement structures
Exhibit Management

Cleaned daily



Feces removed
Uneaten food items removed
Water replaced
New Arrivals

Quarantine


Separate area for 1 month
All animals

Includes “donated” animals from public
Diet

Majority of snakes


Large constrictors



Rabbit
Guinea pigs
Frequency of feeding varies



Mice
Species
Seasonal
Cement depression for water
Index Case

Yellow Rat Snake


Found dead with an open mouth in the
enclosure
No other clinical history
Necropsy Findings



Mild post-mortem changes
No macroscopic abnormalities, abundant fat
stores
Histopathology






Stomach
Lungs
Spleen
Kidney
Liver
Intestine/pancreatic duct
Questions:


What is your case definition?
Is this a potential outbreak?
Cryptosporidium serpentis

Clinical Signs



Post-prandial regurgitation
Weight loss and debilitation
Necropsy findings

Gastrointestinal tract
Thickening of rugae
 Loss of segmental mobility

Background

Reptiles can harbor pathogenic organisms


A reservoir for other reptiles, domestic
animals, humans
Snakes do not acquire Cryptosporidium
from ingesting food


Acquire it from other reptiles
Cryptosporidium is not host specific in reptiles
Diagnosis

Acid fast stains




Fresh feces
Coating of regurgitated items
Gastric lavage (95% sensitivity)
Cloacal sampling (57% sensitivity)
Treatment

Halofuganone and Spiromycin


Ineffective in snakes
Hyperimmune bovine colostrum


Cryptosporidium parvum in dairy cows
Administered 1% of snake body weight once
a week
Case 2

Mole snake


Found dead lying next to water bowl
Ate 2 days previously
Necropsy Findings

Advanced post-mortem changes




Stomach
Small intestine
Liver
Kidney
Diagnostic Tests



Peripheral blood smear
Parasite identification
Stomach content smear
Case 3

Corn snake


Found dead
Has not eaten for a month
Necropsy Findings


Emaciated with minimal stores
Moderate post-mortem change





Stomach/intestinal tract
Liver
Testes
Kidneys
Lung
Diagnostic Tests

Peripheral blood smear

Unremarkable
Outbreak Considerations

Cryptosporidiosis not identified in any of the
three cases


History and clinical signs are highly suggestive of the
disease
Absence of positive diagnosis?




Ignorance of disease in the early stages
Low sensitivity of acid-fast staining methods
Unavailability of more sensitive serological tests
True absence of the disease
Future Steps and Control
Measures

Awareness of the disease

Means of infection and spread


Ensure adequate hygenic principles


Enclosure cleaning
Clear guidelines for new reptilian arrivals



COMMUNICATE to keepers
Quarantine and testing
Gastric lavage required for all new reptiles
Vigorously pursue a diagnosis

In reptiles showing indicative clinical signs of
cryptosporidiosis
References







1. Aiello, S. E. 2004. The Merck Veterinary Manual. 8 edition. Page
1418 - 1419. Merck & Co.,INC. New Jersey.
2. Calle, P. P., Rivas, J., Munoz, M., Thorbjarnarson, J., Holmstrom,
W., and Karesh, W. B. 2001. Infectious disease serologic survey in freeranging Venezuelan anacondas (Eunectes murinus). Journal of Zoo &
Wildlife Medicine 32(3): 320-323.
3. Graczyk, T. K. and Cranfield, M. R. 1998. Experimental transmission
of Cryptosporidium oocyst isolates from mammals, birds and reptiles to
captive snakes. Veterinary Research 29(2): 187-195.
4. Graczyk, T. K., Owens, R., and Cranfield, M. R. 31-12-1996.
Diagnosis of subclinical cryptosporidiosis in captive snakes based on
stomach lavage and cloacal sampling. Veterinary Parasitology 67(3-4):
143-151.
5. Graczyk, T. K. and Cranfield, M. R. 1996. Assessment of the
conventional detection of fecal Cryptosporidium serpentis oocysts in
subclinically infected captive snakes. Veterinary Research 27(2): 185192.
6. Graczyk, T. K. and Cranfield, M. R. 1997. Detection of
Cryptosporidium-specific serum immunoglobulins in captive snakes by a
polyclonal antibody in the indirect ELISA. Veterinary Research 28(2):
131-142.
7. Graczyk, T. K., Cranfield, M. R., and Hill, S. L. 1996. Therapeutic
efficacy of halofuginone and spiramycin treatment against
References







8. Graczyk, T. K., Cranfield, M. R., and Bostwick, E. F. 1999.
Hyperimmune bovine colostrum treatment of moribynd Leopard geckos
(Eublepharis macularius) infected with Cryptosporidium sp. Veterinary
Research 30(4): 377-382.
9. Graczyk, T. K., Cranfield, M. R., and Bostwick, E. F. 2000. Successful
hyperimmune bovine colostrum treatment of Savanna monitors
(<i>Varanus exanthematicus</i>) infected with <i>Cryptosporidium</i>
sp. Journal of Parasitology 86(3): 631-632.
10. Carmel, B. P and Groves, V. 1993. Chronic cryptosporidiosis in
Australian elapid snakes: control of an outbreak in captive colony. Aust
Vet J 70(8): 293-295.
11. Oros, J, Rodriguez, J. L, and Patterson-Kane, J. 1998. Gastric
cryptosporidiosis in a wild frilled lizard from Australia. Journal of Zoo &
Wildlife Medicine 34(4): 807-810.
12. Taylor, M. A, Geach, M. R, and Cooley, W. A. 1999. Clinical and
pathological observations on natural infections of cryptosporidiosis and
flagellate protozoa in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). Veterinary
Record 145(24): 695-699.
13. Terrell, S. P, Uhl, E. W., and Funk, R. S. 2003. Proliferative enteritis
in Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) assiciated with
Cryptosporidium sp. infection. Journal of Zoo & Wildlife Medicine 34(1):
69-75.
14. Brower, A. I. and Cranfield, M. R. 2001. Cryptosporidium sp.associated enteritis without gastritis in rough green snakes (Opheodrys