engleski

Treatment of endoparasitosis in tortoises on big farm in Slovenia

Tortoises were examined for helminth infections from August to October 2001. The hosts were obtained from big farm with over three thousand turtles and other species of lizards and snakes in Slovenia. Five hundred and sixty-two tortoises (hermann`s tortoise Testudo hermanni and mediterranean spur-thiged tortoise - Testudo graeca) were treated with levamisole cloride against helminth parasites. Samples of animal droppings (ten to twenty-nine by group) were examined before treatment, seven days after the first treatment and seven days after the second treatment. Three groups were distinguished among doses (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) and manner of application (oral and intracoelomic). We noted that the best solution is orally application levamisole-klorid in dosis 50 mg/kg by body weight twice in two weeks. The frequency of species, which were detected in droppings by flotation and sedimentation method before treatment, in Testudo greaca was ; oxyurids (100.0%), ascarids (65.0%) and strongylids (45.0%). In Testudo hermanni we detected oxyurids (95.8%), strongylids (45.8%), strongyloid nematodes (18.7%) and ascarids (4.2%). Among protozoa only Balantidium sp. was observed 42.1% in Testudo hermanni and 45.0% in Testudo graeca. Despite in this breeding we have problem with filarids in varanus (Varanus sp.) and other reptiles ; cestodes in agamas (Uromastyx sp.) and we have same cases of pentastomiasis, other endoparasites as cestodes, trematodes and acanthocephalans were not found in tortoises feces in this three groups. Ticks were also found in individual cases, but they not have important role in health conditions in this breeding of tortoises. Before treatment were confirmed one to five different endoparasites in all tortoises. After the first treatment percentage positive tortoises with helminth eggs in feces were increment and also live adults were found in feces, on grass and land, but after the second treatment we noted obviously decrement in percentage of positive tortoise, concentration of eggs in sample and number of different endoparasites by tortoise. After treatment was situation better but not satisfied. The main problem in tortoises remains ascaridosis and migration parasites in lung.

veterinary medicine; reptile; endoparasites; treatment

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