Re: Regurgitation...John...aarrrggghh more crypto....

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: Carl, there is not much to be hopeful for, one must triage these problems early or risk a wipeout. I am of the mind now to whack all sick critters & cut my losses. It appears tho (my cribo for example) that not all pukers are crypto infected or else some to survive despite Chris's thesis appended below. BTW thank you for your continuing contributions. : C&B;jg : In Reply to: Re: Is it reasonable to expect a breeder to guarentee crypto-free snakes? posted by Chris Koester on October 25, 1999 at 14:09:46: : : : What health certificates do snake breeders routinely provide? : : ********* : : Routinely, none at all. : : I have heard that crpto is a parasite that is extremely contagious and fatal. : : ********* : : I wouldn't call it "extremely" contagious, but it is 100% fatal. : : I have also heard that any surfaces that have been in contact with a crypto-positive snake must be disinfected with ammonia because this is the only thing that will kill the cryto. Is all of this true? : : ********** : : High concentration ammonia is one of the few disinfectants that effectively kills Cryptosporidium. : : What are the symptoms of a crypto-positive snake? : : ********** : : Anorexia, regurgitation, gastric hypertrophy (visible swelling in the stomach). : : Is crypto a threat to all reptiles? : : ********** : : It is definitely a threat to snakes and lizards, and has also been identified in turtles. : : Is crypto a threat to humans? : : ********** : : Cryptosporidium serpentis is the species that infects reptiles. It does not appear to be a threat to humans. Cryptosporidium parvum is the species that infects cattle, sheep, etc, and is definitely a zoonotic threat, especially to immunocompromised people (AIDS, cancer patients). : : : : All good questions. You can never be too careful, but don't be too paranoid about crypto. Use sanitary practices with your own snakes, make sure to utilize a quarantine period for all new animals in your collection, and buy animals from reputable, trustworthy breeders. :) : : Chris Koester

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