Fecal smears - a medical perspective

[Zach Valois]

Does anyone know much about just what vets are looking for in reptile feces in doing smears?

I have several microscopes - both dissection and compound - that I use for invertebrate taxonomy/systematics. I would love to be able to identify at least some of the most basic organisms that we might be dealing with.

Does anyone know just what kind of micro organisms are most common to chameleons and what approximate sizes we are talking about?

I better hit some serious veterinary medicine books to learn this one.

 

[Zach Valois]

I find this very interesting.

Here are some quick links I dragged up in case any else found this interesting too.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3284788

http://yil.jp/iguana/parasite/parasite/fecal_check_marie-e.htm

 

[drewtt]

Here's a handy, and fairly comprehensive (and cheap!) book with a section on IDing microorganisms in fecals: Understanding Reptile Parasites

It's a good reference for the more common stuff. Hopefully some other members can suggest some more in-depth literature.

Drew

 

[Zach Valois]

I doubt that book will go much into internal micro organisms, however I will likely pick up a copy of that anyways.

Looks like staining will be involved in identifying some of these things too.

Thanks for the input!

 

[jojackson]

Im not much of a poo guy, Dave Weldon is your man. He will able to point you in the right direction, recommend books etc.
Have fun, and wash your hands before lunch!

 

[nightcrawler]

My Prof in my animal diversity class is a Parasitologist, and he loves Nematodes. He is a really nice guy, and im sure if I ever brought him some poo he would give it a quick overlook. I think I might bring back some poo with me once I go home again.
And not to pollute your thread I think that that is a good starting point as books wise. Maybe get one of these books.

http://www.amazon.com/Reptile-Medic...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256625119&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Infectious-Di...=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256625119&sr=8-3

If your 3 digit spending into this of course.

 

[kinyonga]

You would be looking for things like...nematodes, cestodes, coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), trematodes (such as...Lecithodendrium, Pneumatophilus, Paradistomoides), flagellates and amoebae...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3MNKQfa2wE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BvzjySnL0s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBnSoCOb5W0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leX42CSx8z4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9duvzqvVflw&feature=related

http://www.chameleonnews.com/?page=article&id=29
http://www.aun.edu.eg/env_enc/env mar/env oct/29-34.PDF


Blood smears...microfilariae/nematodes (Foleyella)...
http://www.matthewbolek.com/publications/mattspapers/Foleyella.pdf

 

[Zach Valois]

Great info!

I will enjoy looking these over.

I will let you guys know how I do in the future. I have several people that breed beardeds that want to me do this for them as well.

I get a new scope in a few weeks too, one that I can take photos with!