Sepsis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sepsis, including details on septicemia, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment.

Clinical efficacy of antiparasite treatments against intestinal helminths and haematic protozoa in Gallotia caesaris (lizards).

Foronda P, Santana-Morales MA, Orós J, Abreu-Acosta N, Ortega-Rivas A, Lorenzo-Morales J, Valladares B

Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez s/n, 38203 Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. pforonda@ull.es <pforonda@ull.es>

Intestinal helminths and blood protozoa are common parasites of lizards. In captivity they can be a serious problem, but no information on treatments is available. In this study, several antiparasitic drugs were studied in Gallotia caesaris (Lacertida) from La Gomera, the Canary Islands, Spain. A lack of efficacy of chloroquine, and a decrease in haemogregarine (Apicomplexa) infection by atovaquone-proguanil was demonstrated. Furthermore, a positive effect of fenbendazole against intestinal nematode infection was observed. In the Canary Islands, Gallotia bravoana and Gallotia simonyi (Lacertida) are included in a captive breading recovery plan. The present results are useful in order to keep these animals in good condition and to control their parasites. Moreover, these results are important for reptiles kept as pets, due to the previous lack of knowledge of parasite management.

Published 11 June 2007 in Exp Parasitol, 116(4): 361-5.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Sepsis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.