Crypto Question

[katie_]

I believe a gecko I recently received at our store is infected with crypto.
It has smelly, mucousy stools, vomits and is rapidly losing weight. He also has a dark black liver.

He is no where near any other reptiles, and a stool sample will be sent to a vet on Monday.

If he is indeed crypto positive, which I highly believe - euthanasia the best option?

 

[acpart]

At this point I think it's the only option. Also, did it come into the store with other geckos? Even if they were in separate containers, you need to find out whether it was housed with the other geckos and then worry about whether the other geckos are placed in a group. You may want to get a definitive diagnosis so you know what you're dealing with.

Aliza

 

[geckos9]

i know this is a late post but what ended up happening?

 

[katie_]

Euthanasia. Several geckos showed syptoms and none could be saved after medication and strict quarantine. My supplier is aware that this happened. Its a terrible disease and very painful to the gecko, euthanasia was the kindest option.

 

[sausage]

Sorry to hear you lost a few
I had the same thing happen to my work, a whole batch of leos had to be Euthanased, not just at our store either. several other bushinesses had got batches that were infected too.
It took months for the supplier to own up to having a crypto problem, I think they didn't want to admit it because it would tarnish their record and cost them money. terrible really.

 

[katie_]

Mine told me that every gecko carrys crypto naturally and when theyre stressed (from shipping) their immune systems couldnt fight it off...

 

[athdaraxen]

I know I read an article about that. (I'll link it when I can get to my computer, it's bookmarked there.)

In summary, crypto can act just like any other parasite in the gut (if I remember right its a mutated version of another normal gut parasite) and in small levels won't effect the geckos but like other parasites when the parasite builds up in the gut it can cause problems. Crypto is just so bad because it can't be killed while in the gecko unlike pin worms or other parasites. Since stress can weaken the immune system its harder for the gecko to fight off the parasites, there by making it harder to keep the levels down naturally.

In some leo colonies crypto can be present in anywhere from 30% to 80% and not show a single sign of it.

Or at least that's what I remember from the article, I'll get the link as soon as I am able.

EDIT:
I'm still trying to find the one I spefically looked at but here are some I found very informative!

http://www.leopardgeckos.co.za/health-leopard-gecko-cryptosporidium.htm

http://www.avianbiotech.com/Diseases/Cryptosporidium.htm

This one has some good info on killing it.
http://www.goldengategeckos.com/crypto.htm

I'm not as helpful as I thought. I'm sorry.

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