Cryptosporidium in Snakes with Hypertrophic Gastritis

Abstract

Abstract. Fourteen captive snakes of three genera and four species had severe chronic hypertrophic gastritis. Persistent postprandial regurgitation and firm midbody swelling were the most common clinical signs. Fecal smears had many roughly spherical organisms confirmed by ultrastructural study to be oocysts of Cryprosporidiurn. Pathologic changes included hypertrophy of gastric mucosa and atrophy of granular cells. There were cystic changes in gastric glands and focal mucosal necrosis. Many Cryptosporidiurn lined microvillar surfaces. All developmental forms were identified by ultrastructure. Characteristic oocysts were found in abundance.Tyzzer first described coccidia of the genus Cryptosporidium in the stomach of mice in 1907 [23]. Since then, these protozoa have been reported in turkeys [19

Ultrastructure of cryptosporidial life cycle in chicken host cells

“…Two generations of schizonts, the first one with eight merozoites and the second one with four merozoites, have been described in this parasite by some workers (Proctor and Kemp, 1974;Brownstein et al, 1977;Pohlenz et al, 1978a;Doster et al, 1979;Tham et al, 1982). On the other hand, second generation schizonts with four merozoites have not been recognised by Barker and Carbonell (1974) or by Snodgrass et al (1984).…”

“…In both types sporogony takes place within the host cell, but whilst sporozoites are released from the thin-walled oocyst inside the host (autoinfective) the thick-walled sporulated oocyst is discharged outside the host and is a transmissious stage. Oocysts, on the other hand, have also been observed in faeces (Brownstein et al, 1977;Pohlenz et al, 1978a;Iseki, 1979;Snodgrass et al, 1984). Pohlenz et al (1978b) recognised sporulation in faeces outside the host.…”

Parásitos Gastrointestinales en Reptiles en Cautiverio en Lima Metropolitana

“…Cryptosporidium spp fue reportado en 14 serpientes con gastritis hipertrófica por Brownstein et al (1977). Asimismo, Levine (1980) nombraría Cryptosporidium serpentis a los ooquistes que infectaban la mucosa gástrica de reptiles; y más adelante, Hassl y Benyr (2003) identificaron C. parvum y C. serpentis en heces de anfibios y reptiles.…”

Aural-pharyngeal Polyps Associated with Cryptosporidium Infection in Three Iguanas (Iguana iguana)

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]10 However, the Cryptosporidium species and the predominant site and lesion vary among mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles. C. parvum is an intestinal pathogen of mammals that is a significant cause of diarrhea in calves and humans, especially immunocompromised individuals.…”