Coccidia

[Bernie]

Hi all.

Fecal results have shown that my Cham has Coccidia. Looks like he has had this from the day we first got him. As a result his appetite has been poor, daily vomiting and not grown at all in the 2 months we have had him (5 months old now).

My vet has given me medication for him. Although I am still unclear exactly what this parasite is about. I have heard some are worse than others.

Is the treatment going to cure it for good, or does it just slow it down? Can anyone talk from experience?

Many thanks.

 

[jannb]

First you want to make sure to treat him with the correct meds. Some of the drugs that some vets use to treat coccidia can be very harsh on your chameleon and make him stop eatting. This is the only drug I'd recommend to treat with. https://www.chameleonforums.com/chameleons-coccidia-ponazuril-offers-new-hope-16409/

Coccidia is highly contagous so you will want to quarantine.

Clean up is the next most important thing so that your cham want re-infect once he checks clean from the coccidia. Soap and water want do it. Here's a good thread on the clean up.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/coccidia-cleaning-need-advice-tips-please-42444/

 

[Bernie]

Thanks for that info, much appreciated.

The vet has given me a medication called Baycox. I have a feeling thats the manufacturer name, not the drug name.

 

[Texas Panther Man]

Make sure you disinfect that entire cage. Inc. all the plants and vines. Coccidia is some bad stuff. If you dont disinfect you take the risk of re-infecting the animal after initial treatments have worked.

 

[Bernie]

Make sure you disinfect that entire cage. Inc. all the plants and vines. Coccidia is some bad stuff. If you dont disinfect you take the risk of re-infecting the animal after initial treatments have worked.

At which stage should i clean? He has 3 doses over 6 days. He had his first dose today, so dose number 2 is on wednesday. 3rd dose on friday.

I was thinking of using bleach for the viv. Boiling water for vines, branches etc... Not sure what to clean the plants with though? Could I bleach them but rinse thoroughly in the shower?

 

[Texas Panther Man]

I'd wait and clean after he's taken the third dose. You can also use hydrogen peroxide as a good cleaning product. It kills things that bleach wont. Its also a little easier to use as far as the residual fumes and such. I think you'll need the 4% or higher concentration though. Just use it straght out of the bottle no need to dilute it. I'd use that for everything inc the vines and cage.

I'd also remove and replace the top 1" of potting soil from the plants. Just to be sure theres no coccidia cysts in the soil from the chams poop.

 

[kirekameleon]

When I think about parasites, I did not realize all the ways Chams can get these. I just read they can get them from what we feed them (wild and raised?) and even water. How are ways of preventing the owner from introducing the parasite. I know WC can have them and be spread to others. Also, I found many parasites that can be associated with certain Chams, but are these native parasites where they are from, and do they mainly catch parasites that are from here. (Types of Choleoemeria, Eimeria, Isospora are these types of coccidia?

•Choleoeimeria bohemii - Meller's chameleon (Chamaeleo melleri)
•Choleoeimeria brookesiae - spiny leaf chameleon (Brookesia decaryi)
•Choleoeimeria glawi - panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)
•Choleoeimeria hirbayah - veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)
•Choleoeimeria largeni - graceful chameleon (Chamaeleo gracilis)
•Choleoeimeria tilburyi - Jackson's chameleon (Chamaeleo jacksonii)
•Eimeria hajeki - pygmy chameleon (Rampholeon temporalis)
•Eimeria vencesi - panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)
•Eimeria worthi - Oustalet's chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti)
•Isospora brygooi - panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)
•Isospora jaracimrmani - veiled chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus

http://www.answers.com/topic/chameleon#ixzz1OKsCN772

Anyone that can offer a good Chameleon link and medical link I would appreciate it.

kire

 

[Bernie]

I'd wait and clean after he's taken the third dose. You can also use hydrogen peroxide as a good cleaning product. It kills things that bleach wont. Its also a little easier to use as far as the residual fumes and such. I think you'll need the 4% or higher concentration though. Just use it straght out of the bottle no need to dilute it. I'd use that for everything inc the vines and cage.

I'd also remove and replace the top 1" of potting soil from the plants. Just to be sure theres no coccidia cysts in the soil from the chams poop.

Can I use the peroxide on the plant leaves also?

 

[jannb]

Can I use the peroxide on the plant leaves also?

Yes, you will use it on your plants and everything that your chameleon has been on. You will need 40 volume peroxide liquid, the kind you buy at a beauty supply store not a drug store. If you'll read this thread you will find it very helpful.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/coccidia-cleaning-need-advice-tips-please-42444/

 

[Bernie]

If I had a second cham in a separate viv that did not share any equipment/livefood and come into zero contact. Am I right thinking there is no chance of infection to the other.

Is there any other precautions to take other than sticking by the above and keeping sterile?

 

[jannb]

As long as your second cham doesn't come into contact with anything that your sick one has you should be ok. Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands after touching your cham with coccidia.

 

[Bernie]

Unfortunately I am unable to get hold of any peroxide other than a cream thats in ladies hair products. It seems peroxide is hard to obtain as it has been used by terrorists for bombs.

I am able to get 9.5% Ammonia solution which is a household cleaning product. Is this a suitable replacement? Does it need diluting or using pure?

 

[jannb]

Cleaning is a lot of work and you'll have to repeat it weekly until he's clean. The only thing that kills Coccidia other than the 40 Volume peroxide is Ammonia 30% solution in water. That means everything in cage - EVERYTHING has to be washed with that solution. My guys as you know live in trees. I bought a power washer at an auto stores and power washed the plants/trees. I also replaced 30% of the soil from the top down. The ammonia killed most of my plants and the peroxide does not.

 

[Bernie]

Cleaning is a lot of work and you'll have to repeat it weekly until he's clean. The only thing that kills Coccidia other than the 40 Volume peroxide is Ammonia 30% solution in water. That means everything in cage - EVERYTHING has to be washed with that solution. My guys as you know live in trees. I bought a power washer at an auto stores and power washed the plants/trees. I also replaced 30% of the soil from the top down. The ammonia killed most of my plants and the peroxide does not.

Struggling to find either of those solutions. I shall keep hunting anyway. Thanks.

 

[Dave Weldon]

Struggling to find either of those solutions. I shall keep hunting anyway. Thanks.

Howdy,

If you can't find the cleaning solutions suggested, your best bet is to attempt to mechanically remove coccidia by using soapy water to loosen them from surfaces and rinse them away. Be sure to do this away from areas that you don't want to risk contaminating such as your own garden. Coccidia can live for months on surfaces including backyard soil. Scrubbing with soapy water and thoroughly rinsing will give you a fighting chance and knocking it out. The 40 volume hydrogen peroxide (dangerous stuff) surface treatment is the extra effort that further insures that the parasite won't be returning . I bought my supply of it at a beauty supply warehouse (and I'm talk'n a real, dirty warehouse!)

 

[Citizen Snips]

Get new plants?

 

[Bernie]

Ok I finally tracked down a shop that sells 40vol peroxide.

I have soaked all surfaces in the viv, all vines, fake plants, all leaves of real plants in the bath for 10mins. Thoroughly rinsed in the shower.

The top inch of soil will be taken out once the plants have dried off.

Hopefully that should be the end of quarantine!

 

[jannb]

You will need to clean weekly until your guy gets a clean fecal and then to be on the safe side clean once more. I did all of this cleaning and was so very careful with everything and my cham still re-infected after being clean.

 

[Bernie]

Unfortunately the viv is now vacant. He was only a young cham but died yesterday morning. He was very sick and the vets could do no more for him. It seems he had coccidia however didn't improve after the meds. He may have had something else too.

So there will be no more cham feces in there until I get another.

 

[jannb]

I am so sorry for your loss. The meds that some vets use are very harsh on chameleons and the meds could have made him worse. Do several good cleanings BEFORE you put another cham in there.