Ectoparasites
Ectoparasites are parasites which infest the outside of a reptile such as mites and ticks. These parasites can usually be observed within the vivarium or living between the scales of the reptile. These parasites may be brought in from infested substrate, especially bark chip.
Mites
The most commonly seen mite in snakes is Ophionyssus natricis which appears as a red to dark-coloured pin-head mite hiding under the overlapping eges of scales. They may be seen in water dishes in which the reptile has been bathing. They can cause severe irritation, pruritus and self trauma, as well as potentially causing anaemia and conditions such as dysecdysis. In addition, they can be responsible for transmitting bacteria, which may cause septicaemia. There are other mites, such as the cloacal mites of aquatic turtles.
In addition there is of course the non-parasitic harvest mites or Neotrombicula autumnalis which may be brought in on straw and hay bedding material. The adult itself is not irritant but the six legged larval stage is and may cause the reptile to traumatise itself.
Ticks
Wild caught species are common sufferers of ticks, but ticks are also seen in reptiles kept in owners gardens, such as tortoises. In the UK the species Ixodes ricinus (the sheep or deer tick) and Ixodes hexagonus (hedgehog tick) are seen. These attach to soft thick skinned areas. In tortoises these are naturally the areas around the neck inlet and in front of the hind legs. They may cause local damage and can transmit a range of viral and bacterial pathogens. These include the bacteria Staphylecoccus aureus, the cause of lymes disease.
Blowfly Myrasis/ Fly Strike
Myrasis is a particular problem for any reptile kept in insanitary conditions or those with diarrhoea in particular, tortoises are at high risk during the summer months. Members of the blue bottle, black bottle and green bottle family are all capable of laying eggs on a tortoise. In peak conditions these can hatch into larvae or maggots within 1-2 hours. These then borrow away from the light into the body of the tortoise causing severe trauma, infections,.. and ultimately death.
Mites
The most commonly seen mite in snakes is Ophionyssus natricis which appears as a red to dark-coloured pin-head mite hiding under the overlapping eges of scales. They may be seen in water dishes in which the reptile has been bathing. They can cause severe irritation, pruritus and self trauma, as well as potentially causing anaemia and conditions such as dysecdysis. In addition, they can be responsible for transmitting bacteria, which may cause septicaemia. There are other mites, such as the cloacal mites of aquatic turtles.
In addition there is of course the non-parasitic harvest mites or Neotrombicula autumnalis which may be brought in on straw and hay bedding material. The adult itself is not irritant but the six legged larval stage is and may cause the reptile to traumatise itself.
Ticks
Wild caught species are common sufferers of ticks, but ticks are also seen in reptiles kept in owners gardens, such as tortoises. In the UK the species Ixodes ricinus (the sheep or deer tick) and Ixodes hexagonus (hedgehog tick) are seen. These attach to soft thick skinned areas. In tortoises these are naturally the areas around the neck inlet and in front of the hind legs. They may cause local damage and can transmit a range of viral and bacterial pathogens. These include the bacteria Staphylecoccus aureus, the cause of lymes disease.
Blowfly Myrasis/ Fly Strike
Myrasis is a particular problem for any reptile kept in insanitary conditions or those with diarrhoea in particular, tortoises are at high risk during the summer months. Members of the blue bottle, black bottle and green bottle family are all capable of laying eggs on a tortoise. In peak conditions these can hatch into larvae or maggots within 1-2 hours. These then borrow away from the light into the body of the tortoise causing severe trauma, infections,.. and ultimately death.
©2014 Cat Read