Title
Treatment of Cryptosporidium serpentis infection in a king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) with paromomycin
Author(s)
Rivas, Anne E.;Boyer, Donal M.;Torregrosa, Kevin;Orrico, William J.;Paré, Jean A.
Published
2018
Publisher
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Abstract
Feces collected from a wild-caught, young adult king cobra ( Ophiophagus hannah ) were repeatedly positive for Cryptosporidium on both direct immunofluorescent antibody (DFA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequencing identified the organism as Cryptosporidium serpentis . Infection was subclinical, as the snake was in good body condition and active, and readily consumed dead rats that were scented with snake skin. A course of paromomycin, inserted in feeder rats, was initiated at 360 mg/kg, orally, twice weekly for 6 wk. Feces collected at the end of treatment were negative for Cryptosporidium on PCR, as were feces collected 3 wk, 6 mo, 12 mo, and 18 mo later. At higher dosages, paromomycin may prove useful and may be curative for early gastric and intestinal cryptosporidiosis in squamate reptiles.
Keywords
Cryptosporidium serpentis;king cobra;Ophiophagus hannah;paromomycin
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PUB24190