Crypto:what exactly is it?

[Lycari]

First, the reason I'm posting this here instead of Health/Feeding Issues is because I didn't want to imply that I have a snake that might be sick. I don't even have my snake yet, but the whole crypto thing has me confused and I figured I should try to make some sense of it before I get a snake. XD

I've tried doing some research online, but the only sources I can seem to find are professionals writing for other professionals or students—in other words, people who understand certain jargon. Now, I'm a recent high school graduate, and the closest thing to biology I ever took was forensics. I can tell you about rigor, lividity, blood spatter analysis, drug testing, fingerprint analysis, and even a little bit about DNA fingerprinting. But I have no idea what an oocyst, lesion, sporozooite (spelling?), et cetera is. I couldn't even explain cell structure. XD

Now, from what I gather, crypto is a parasite that exists in various forms that affect different kinds of animals. For most animals, it's not really dangerous, but it is lethal in reptiles, especially snakes. It causes regerges, "lesions" in the stomache, some kind of swelling, and then somehow kills the animal. Apparently it reproduces by somehow getting these "oocysts" into the snake's poo, which the snake then ingests for some reason, which results in reinfection. To me, this explanation seems awfully full of holes, and as the only apparent symptom is regurgeing, that would mean I'd have to have a snake checked out every time it regurged. Then I see threads on here mentioning putting down entire collections because one snake got crypto.... Couldn't you just quarantine the affected animal, thus avoiding spreading the parasite? And then, if it has to be "reinfected" again and again to die from it, couldn't you do some extreme poop control to make sure the snake can't ingest any of it's own fecal matter so it stops getting these "oocysts"?

What I'm getting at is, I'd really like to have crypto explained to me in layman's terms... Or maybe as if I were ten years old.

What exactly is crypto and what makes it so deadly?
What are the symptoms? When should I have a snake checked out?
Why would you have to put down an entire collection when one snake gets this disease?
I understand that crypto has no cure, but is there any way to prevent it?
What does crypto do to the snake, exactly? What is a "lesion"?

Thanks to anyone willing to help me out with this. >_< XD

 

[Lyion]

Regurges are dangerous for snakes in general!

 

[Lycari]

Well, yes, obviously. But if it might be crypto every time, I think I'd be so worried about making sure that wasn't the problem, I'd forget to check all the other possibilities. I mean, there's no need to take a snake to the vet if your UTH just broke and the temp got too low or if the food was just too big; you just follow the protocol and everything should be fine. But if you have a lot of snakes and one snake getting cyrpto could mean all of them have to die, wouldn't your first priority be to make sure it isn't crypto? -_- That's why I'm asking, so that, in the event of a regurge, I might be able to rule out crypto without dropping everything and rushing the snake to the vet and fretting for weeks.

I've done a good deal of research, I know regurges are dangerous, but as far as I can tell, there's no need to spend hundreds on vet visits over one regurge unless there's reason to believe it might be something really serious. Which brings me back to my questions regarding how to recognize crypto, what it is, and how to prevent it.

 

[ghosthousecorns]

I can't answer all your questions but it would become expensive to take every snake to the vet that ever regurged. If it kept happening with no apparent reason then it is time to worry, only a vet can diagnose crypto and many other things that cause the snake to regurge can be fixed. Regurges can happen for a number of reasons besides crypto. A snake can regurge because the temps were wrong and it could not digest, or because the food item was too big, or because it was going into shed when it ate, or because it was handled too soon after eating, or because it was fed too soon after it had already regurged and did not have its digestive enzymes built back up (most say not to feed for 10 days after a snake has regurged)

 

[Lycari]

Thanks for the constructive post.

That's what I was thinking. I mean, I've seen several posts here about regurges, as well as Kathy Love's regurge protocol, and I was thinking, "If the only symptom of crypto is regurgitation, and crypto is a horrible death sentence for a snake, then why isn't 'check it for crypto' always the first advice?" After reading more about regurges, I realized that the other causes must be a good deal more common than crypto. But then, how would you know when to check a snake for it?

Could a snake with crypto hold any food down at all? I mean, what if a snake with crypto seems to go back to normal after just one regurge, then regress again a few months later? Is that why you might have to put down an entire collection, because a snake might not seem to have a major problem until it's been infected for a while, so the parasite might have spread to all the others over the course of weeks, months, years?

I don't expect to get answers for all my questions, but I really appreciate anyone who can help me make some more sense out of this.

 

[crackerhead]

Great question! Here's a good article:
www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/1996/summer/snakes.shtml
Many of your questions are answered within it.

What exactly is crypto and what makes it so deadly?
It's the manner that snakes deal with the parasitic infection that makes it a deadly issue. The cycle of regurges and the development of lesions cause a cycle that weaken the immune system and compromises the animal. Although death usually comes from starvation, secondary infection can also cause death.
What are the symptoms? When should I have a snake checked out?
Regurges, Abdomen swelling (from lesions), fouler than usual feces, weight loss
A vet check is called for when the owner has eliminated all the regurge possibilities that Jen mentioned above and the problem continues.
Why would you have to put down an entire collection when one snake gets this disease?
You don't. Unless your husbandry is really bad, the contamination should be limited to a single infected animal. At worst the animals housed around that animal. This is also a big reason NOT to cohabitate snakes.
I understand that crypto has no cure, but is there any way to prevent it?
Quarantine new animals and follow good husbandry practices.
What does crypto do to the snake, exactly? What is a "lesion"?
Most animals die from starvation when affected. Lesions are scar tissue that builds up in the digestive track. When large enough they can cause regurgitation as well due to the restriction of the digestive tract.

Terri

 

[crotalis40741]

pm me an email addy and i will send you a paper on crypto

 

[Lycari]

Hahaha, that's the exact article that prompted me to come here for clarification because I couldn't make any sense of it! XD Maybe I just have trouble getting past words I don't understand... not to sound like a braggart or anything, but I almost never have problems with vocabulary barriers.

Thanks a million for the clarification! ^_^ This makes a lot more sense than the article. XD

So then, how much weight loss, exactly? I expect any snake that has a regurge will lose a bit of weight during the slow buildup back to normal feedings. Does a snake with crypto lose any more weight than a snake without crypto?

 

[Rich Z]

First, the reason I'm posting this here instead of Health/Feeding Issues is because I didn't want to imply that I have a snake that might be sick. I don't even have my snake yet, but the whole crypto thing has me confused and I figured I should try to make some sense of it before I get a snake. XD

Yes, but when another member might be SEARCHING for info on crypto, which forum do you think they might be looking in? If it is OK with you, I think it would be best to move this thread into that Health forum for that reason.

 

[Lycari]

Yeah, that's alright. I just wanted to avoid confusion until the question was answered. Thanks for asking.

 

[Shiari]

A lesion is actually not just scar tissue. It's often used to refer to an 'open' wound or some sort of trauma to the tissue. An ulcer is a type of lesion.

So, some of the symptoms of crypto are the multiple regurges, the appearance of having 'just eaten' despite the regurges, and foul smelling and mucus-y feces. And some snakes don't show these signs at all.

 

[Lycari]

Oh, alright. That's good to know. Thank you!

 

[Nanci]

I would suggest you get the book Understanding Reptile Parasites. It covers everything in an easy to understand but complete manner. It's not just snakes, but many of the organisms affect more than one type of reptile, plus lots of us keep other reptiles besides snakes. It should be among the essential first books you get when you get a snake.

 

[Hexadeci]

I hope this thread is not considered too old, but I wanted to ask a follow up question I can't find answered clearly: Where does a snake contract crypto from to begin with? I suppose in theory anything that it eats or drinks or consumes would be potential vectors. Is infected prey a concern? Tap water? Food and water dishes? ...Substrate? I saw from the article linked that crypto is resistant to disinfectants and temperature changes, so how can one clean so as to prevent it?

 

[Jbradley]

snakes pass on crypto from other snakes or even the owner handling them also going into the same holding container when cages are being cleaned. the snake doesnt eat the feces but if some will inot the water or was missed in cleaning then the snake ate it would ingest the oocysts. extreme dehydration sets in early followed by the snakes regurging after usually 2 days. Smaller meals are easier to digest and keep down for a while but eventually even that comes up. there is 7 different forms of crypto only one is found in serpents and there is no cure as of yet. I speak only from my expierence and the information i gathered on the subject. Flagyl worked for a few weeks but soon after had no effect. I didnt see a devastating effect on all me snakes only becuase of sanitation measures i maintain. I did loose 4 snakes after about 8 monthes with no success at all. Unfortunatley all of the snakes were put into the freezer for the better as them lingering on daily in obvious torment did no good.