TREATMENT OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SERPENTIS INFECTION IN A KING COBRA ( OPHIOPHAGUS HANNAH) WITH PAROMOMYCIN.

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.