She should be taken to the vet, here is a list
of well known and professional herp vets.
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/
Cryptosporidium is also a coccidian parasite but it is extremely pathogenic. One must use extreme caution when dealing with this parasite as it can be very easily transmitted to humans where it can cause disease.
Cryptosporidium has a direct life cycle and can easily threaten the health of any reptile that comes into contact with it. It is believed to be spread by exposure to food, water and the environmental items that have been contaminated with feces containing the sporulated oocysts shed by other reptiles. It is highly contagious!
Common Symptoms:
The symptoms exhibited will vary from gecko to gecko and will depend on the severity of the problem. Cryptosporidium can cause severe irritation to the intestinal walls of a leopard gecko. The symptoms could include:
Anorexia
Regurgitation
Diarrhea
- can include mucus in the stools
- can include cottage cheese-like stools
Depression
Listlessness
Weight loss
Dehydration
Failure to respond to therapeutics.
Death
Diagnostic Methods:
There are several different techniques available to your veterinarian to help determine the possible presence of cryptosporidium. These could include:
Complete physical examination.
Detailed patient history and overview of husbandry.
Fecal exams.
- It may be possible to identify the oocysts on direct smears.
- Acid-fast stain technique is preferable.
- Several fecal samples may be required until you have a positive identification.
Treatment Options:
At the moment, there is no known cure for Cryptosporidium although there has been a great deal of success in the past using Trimethoprim-Sulfadiazine administered PO (orally) to stabilize a reptile.
Supportive care is essentially all one can do at the moment for an infected gecko. This could include the use of fluid and electrolyte therapy, as well as nutritional supplementation.
The prognosis for an infected gecko is poor and euthanasia may ultimately be necessary depending on the severity of the problem. Some leopard geckos can live for several months after being affected while others may live for several years before passing away.
When dealing with medical problems such as cryptosporidium, proper personal hygiene, quarantine and disinfection techniques are absolutely necessary. Treating the gecko alone without treating the environment will NOT eliminate the problem! As with other parasites, it is recommended that you wear gloves while handling the infected gecko.
