[Steve905]

I was wondering with reptiles that come in from the wild. Do they usually carry these parasites while living in their respictive environments without ill effects? It seems as soon as the come to captivity the soon fall prey to the parasites. I know the whole transport/capture/shipping stresses the animal and is that what causes the parasite to flourish or is it something else?
Thanks

[thorrshamri]

I think you have the right answer.It is very likely for some wild geckos to die out of an overload of parasites or undirect consequences of parasitoses.But stress caused by capture,shipping,long quarantine procedures certainly plays a crucial part in the downfall of their immune system,thus giving way to commensals and the whole parasitic flora to take the opportunity to flourish as you suggested.

[geckosrus]

To add on to what thorrshamri said...

Another reason WC animals are more prone to the ill effects of parasites once in captivity is because they are being reinfected by the parasite constantly. An enclosure is a much smaller space than the natural environment and in an enclosure the food items can eat the infected feces of the reptile, become infected themselves, and can reinfect the reptile once it is eaten. Wheras in the wild, a reptile has more space and doesn't get reinfected as easily. Of course stress increases the parasite load as well, which plays a major role like thorrshamri said.