Coccidia in Beardies

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

joanne mcallister — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 16:22:47 GMT

Sorry, should have read your post properly - you have already answered my question

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

joanne mcallister — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 16:20:36 GMT

Thanks for your advice. The viv they were in was pretty dirty when they came in to us. 2 have loose faeces but the other is clinically normal. We have wormed them and sent off for repeat faecal analysis. I thought all reptiles had salmonella as a normal gut commensal. Would you treat for this only if there is profuse/pure growth on culture?

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

CatherineThomas — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 15:24:54 GMT

I would call the lab and ask them how many were seen of each. Also ask how heavy the growth of salmonella was and if there was a mixed growth of bacteria. I wouldn't usually treat salmonella unless the beardie is showing symptoms and a heavy growth is reported. But it is a good opportunity to discuss the implications of salmonella and hand hygiene.

Do you know if they've been kept with good husbandry previously? I would guess not if they are being re-homed.

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

joanne mcallister — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 15:03:53 GMT

Sorry, I did mean Bearded Dragons! We sent off for faecal screens on 3 that have come to us for re-homing and coccidia, oxyurid ova and salmonella were identified.

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:16:11 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Bose"]

I did think that you must be a very well-rounded vet Michael when talking about reptiles in addition to working in mixed practice (I got the impression you work in mixed).

[/quote]

My reptile experience is one snake once! No clue.

I navigate the forum using 'new post' button, rather than looking in individual sub forums, so unsure what section this was in.

In a bearded collie you can definitely treat cocci with TMPS......

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

CatherineThomas — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:30:39 GMT

According to Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery they can have coccidiasis i.e not causing disease. But I usually find them either in large numbers or in animals showing symptoms or with poor husbandry. So I usually treat with septrin. Sometimes I'll treat other parasites first if there are multiple species present and there are only low numbers of coccidia, and then re-assess.

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

HMC — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:30:20 GMT

I did think that you must be a very well-rounded vet Michael when talking about reptiles in addition to working in mixed practice (I got the impression you work in mixed).

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

HMC — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:28:43 GMT

...Just noticed that it's posted in the exotics section.

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

HMC — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:28:08 GMT

I didn't even think of the dog variety. Perhaps Joanne should clarify!

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:24:49 GMT

By 'beardie' I assumed the dogs.

Ignore my answer!

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

HMC — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:15:49 GMT

Quoting from Marie's recent VT article on reptiles (which I just so happened to be reading):

"Coccidia.... All infections should be treated... either potentiated sulphonamides or toltrazuril."

Re: Coccidia in Beardies

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 10:54:02 GMT

I usually would. TMPS if symptomatic.