Pinworm count

[Okiemavis]

I'll start this off by saying I have a vet appointment next week, so I do plan on getting professional help. This is just to fulfill my own personal geekiness. Plus, this way I can run regular fecals to make sure nothing comes back. I regularly foster beardies and other herps (never allowed in contact with my baby, but still), so I'd like to be able to do this for my own peace of mind.

I just did a simple fecal float. I easily identified coccidia and pinworm eggs. Now my question is how do I tell how heavy the infestation is? I particularly saw a LOT of pinworms, easily between 75-100 at 4x magnification. It seemed like way more than normal levels, and obviously he will be treated for that.

Thanks a lot!

 

[herpfreak]

That's a good question... I believe that more than a few pinworm eggs is abnormal, though a couple of coccidia is normal.

But really, I'm not sure about numbers. I'm interested to hear what others have to say.

 

[Okiemavis]

Thanks Budo- it does seem to be a pretty bad infestation, but considering the conditions he came from, I'm lucky that he doesn't have more issues. He was a skeleton when I got him, and was kept in a tank with a UV bulb that hadn't been replaced in years and household incandescent bulb in his heat fixture. The first time I gave him water he drank until he puked. And the worst of it- the previous owner is studying to become a vet!!

I'll be sure to ask *my* vet for an answer to my post, and put her response up here. He was dewormed when I first got him, but it was just one dose, and clearly not enough.

 

[herpfreak]

Aww, poor guy. He's lucky to be in a good home now.

 

[spyder79]

I plan to start doing my own fecals in the next few months and a good friend of mine that has been in the reptile world for over 30 years suggested these two book as the best sources of info on things such as what you are asking (i havent purchased yet or id be able to answer your question lol)

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Reptile-Parasites-Herpetoculturists-Herpetocultural/dp/1882770218/ref=wl_it_dp_v?ie=UTF8&coliid=IYUAVPYBT6ZX0&colid=2260GT71T8JA2

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Reptile-Parasites-Advanced-Vivarium/dp/1882770900/ref=wl_it_dp_v?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2CRCONXASC24C&colid=2260GT71T8JA2