Pinworms - to treat or not to treat

[Samajade]

My little female fattie is about 14 weeks old. Healthy, growing, eats great, no issues of any sort, thank God. I brought her to a herp vet a couple days ago for a "well visit" - just to get established with him and make sure I liked and trusted him so that if ever I've got a problem with him, I'll know where to bring her. As part of this visit, he ran a fecal. Called me yesterday to let me know she has pinworms. Said they grade them on a 0 - +4 scale and she was +3. He suggested that I worm her with Panacur (3 doses, each given a week apart). He acknowledged that it was controversial as to whether to treat them or not, but he felt that sometimes there may be other worms that aren't as easy to find and is worth doing the worming.

? What do you all think? I know I've read here that pinworms shouldn't be treated unless the animal is symptomatic (she's not), but I've also read here that people worm them prophylactically, too. In this specific case, what would you do?

And... are the kind of pinworms geckos have transmissible to people? I sure don't want them, plus I've got a 4-year-old. (And yes, we're careful with hand-washing, but would like to know anyhow.)

Thanks!

 

[Samajade]

No one?

 

[HepCatMoe]

ask your vet about the pinworms being transmissible.

 

[snared99]

Pinworms are zoonotic(transmitted to people), but proper hand washing will quickly solve this issue. The pinworm topic is a large one, and I for one do not see the need to deworm with no symtoms. There are actually theories that pinworms aid in digestion and are not totally bad to the animal. The last thing we need in the world is a panacur resistant pinworm, that would be horrible. Whether you deworm or not you will see pinworms again with feeding crickets, no matter how many times you deworm.

 

[CapCitySteve]

Pinworms are zoonotic(transmitted to people), but proper hand washing will quickly solve this issue. The pinworm topic is a large one, and I for one do not see the need to deworm with no symtoms. There are actually theories that pinworms aid in digestion and are not totally bad to the animal. The last thing we need in the world is a panacur resistant pinworm, that would be horrible. Whether you deworm or not you will see pinworms again with feeding crickets, no matter how many times you deworm.

This statement is inaccurate. The pinworms in your leopard geckos are not zoonotic to humans. They are two completely different genus'. Humans are infected by the Enterobious genus while reptiles are infected by the Alaeuris genus. Please site your source before making such claims.

 

[snared99]

This statement is inaccurate. The pinworms in your leopard geckos are not zoonotic to humans. They are two completely different genus'. Humans are infected by the Enterobious genus while reptiles are infected by the Alaeuris genus. Please site your source before making such claims.

I take back my comment on zoonoses, I was working on a powerpoint for zoonosis and had another parasite on the brain. Even if they were transmitable, which they are not, hand washing would effectively protect you. But still pinworms are no cause for alarm for your little fattail, but you can deworm if you wish. It hink you will find the results to be the same in the end.
The rest of the statment is 100% true. Resistant parasites can be made and there is no need to constantly deworm.

 

[Samajade]

Thanks to both of you. Would love to get her off crickets but she's not interested in what I'd rather.

I have not, and don't want to, worm her with panacur when she's asymptomatic. What do both of you think of Reptaid in this instance? Worth doing in this situation?

 

[snared99]

Reptaid in my opinion just creates resistant parasites. There is no need to deworm when it is not necessary.

 

[SFgeckos]

"This statement is inaccurate. The pinworms in your leopard geckos are not zoonotic to humans. They are two completely different genus'. Humans are infected by the Enterobious genus while reptiles are infected by the Alaeuris genus. Please site your source before making such claims."

From what I remember the only two species that infect humans are Enterobius vermicularis and E. gregorii.

Reptiles can be host to many genera of Oxyurida (pinworms) including genus- (following infect Iguanids) Ozolaimus, Paraleuris, (following infect lizards) Parapharyngodon, Pharyngodon, (following infect lizards and tortoise) Skrjabinodon, Spauligodon, Tachygometria, Aleuris, Thelandros, (following infect tortoises) Mehdiella, Ortleppnema, and Thaparia.

SOURCE: Mader, DVM. Reptile Medicine and Surgery 2nd edition. 2006
There's great photos and a chart starting on pg. 354 which is summarized above.

Hope that helps!
Jon

 

[Samajade]

Okay, so just to be sure I do indeed understand this - Jon, you're also saying that whatever type of pinworms she has is not transmissible to us?

And okay, I understand about the resistance - thanks!