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Question Concerning Internal Parasites
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by Venomjunkie on July 29, 2007
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I have always heard it is proper protocol to quarantine WC snakes from the rest of your collection to prevent any parasites they may carry from spreading to your healthy snakes. However, I was wondering if it is possible for internal parasites to spread from snake to snake if they are in the same room. I was thinking it wouldn't be possible because I'm thinking an internal parasite cannot live outside a snake' body, for very long at least, and therefore wouldn't be able to move from one snake to another. The reason I'm asking is because I have a WC Mangrove Snake that I have yet to treat for parasites and I want to move two of my common boas into the same room as her as soon as possible. So, would it be a bad idea to move the boas into the room before I treat the Mangrove for possible internal parasites (she has no external parasites so that's not an issue)? Thanks for any info!
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RE: Question Concerning Internal Parasites
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by Rob_Carmichael on July 29, 2007
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It's a bad idea. Although you may not see any external parasites, internal parasites are a real concern and even more concerning, is the possibility of the snake being a carrier of some nasty virus which can spread by wildfire. A virus can wipe out an entire collection in no time if you don't exercise sound quarantine procedures.
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
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RE: Question Concerning Internal Parasites
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by Venomjunkie on July 29, 2007
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Ok so are you saying that internal parasites can be spread from snake to snake as well as viruses, or should I only be concerned about a virus spreading and not the internal parasites? Also, will a virus be killed by the medication used to kill parasites or does killing a virus require a whole new medication?
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RE: Question Concerning Internal Parasites
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by Cro on July 29, 2007
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Dylan, the medications you use for Parasites will have no effect on a Virus. Parasite medications are often very specific, and there is not a single type that will do a "shotgun kill" on all types of Parasites. Some work on round worms, some on flat worms, etc.
You should go to amazon and purchase an inexpensive book on Reptile Parasites to find the different types of meds and the dosages.
Although you would think that internal Parasites could not spread because they are not airborne, they can EASILY spread because of handling if the snakes are in the same room. Unless you are VERY meticulus in your handling techniques, such as dipping a snake hook and your hands into disinfectant between cages, and wearing surgical gloves, the simple act of removing a water dish from one snake`s cage by hand can introduce Parasite eggs to your skin, which you can introduce to your other snakes when you work your next cage.
Like Rob stated, it is not a good idea simply because almost all herp keepers will slip up somewhere, and even in an isolation room, the transfer of Parasites, and Viruses very likely to happen.
If you can not avoid this because of the room you have available, try your very best to prevent cross contamination from one cage to another. Many people would tell you that you are keeping too many snakes, if you can`t quaranteen them properly, but I will not do that, because individuals are not Zoos, and do not have the resources that Zoos have.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Question Concerning Internal Parasites
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by Venomjunkie on July 29, 2007
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Thanks for the info guys. I guess I'll treat the Mangrove for parasites before I move the boas in with her then.
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RE: Question Concerning Internal Parasites
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by LarryDFishel on July 29, 2007
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The larval stage of nematode worms (probably the most common class of internal parasites) can live for at least days in feces. The eggs probably longer. I've found what LOOK like viable eggs (I didn't try to incubate them) in feces that were almost completely dried... That's how they spread in the wild.
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RE: Question Concerning Internal Parasites
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by Buzztail1 on July 29, 2007
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One of the other undiscussed reasons for quarantine:
It gives the snake being quarantined time to show symptoms of viral infection, parasitic infection, etc.
You might receive what appears to be a 100% healthy animal that someone just wiped all of the mites (just an easy example) off of before selling/shipping to you.
The quarantine period would allow those unhatched eggs time to appear/hatch/be noticed/be treated before exposing your entire collection to them.
You might also receive what looks like a totally healthy animal that regurgitates its first meal spreading cryptosporidia through your entire collection before you can even recognize what it is.
The idea of quarantining new animals is to ensure that you don't lose your whole collection to something that you didn't even know your new animal had.
Good luck with however you decide to deal with it.
As John said, not everyone has the room to keep everything completely separate. I am sure that the desire to maintain quarantine protocol goes up with the personal value associated with a collection.
R/
Karl
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