Hyperimmune bovine colostrum treatment of moribund leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) infected with Cryptosporidium sp.

摘要

Therapy based on the protective passive immunity of hyperimmune bovine colostrum (HBC) was applied to 12 moribund Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) infected with Cryptosporidium sp. The geckos were lethargic and moderately to severely emaciated, weighing on average 36% of the baseline body weight value. Seven gastric HBC treatments at weekly intervals each decreased the relative output of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts and the prevalence of oocyst-positive faecal specimens. Histologically, after8 weeks of treatment, 7 of 12 geckos had only single developmental stages of Cryptosporidium sp. in the intestinal epithelium, and 3, one and one geckos had low, moderate and high numbers, respectively, of the pathogen developmental stages. The HBC therapy was efficacious in decreasing the parasite load in moribund geckos. Morphometric and immunological analysis of Cryptosporidium sp. oocyst isolates originating from Leopard geckos (E. macularius) identified differences between gecko-derived oocyst isolates and isolates of C. serpentis recovered from snakes.