LUCRĂRI ŞTIINłIFICE MEDICINĂ VETERINARĂ VOL. XLII (1), 2009, TIMIŞOARA ADVOCATE – THERAPEUTICAL SOLUTION IN PARASITICAL INFESTATION IN FRILLNECK LIZARD ( CHLAMYDOSAURUS KINGII ) AND BEARDED DRAGON ( POGONA VITTICEPS ) AMA GROZA¹, NARCISA MEDERLE², GH. DĂRĂBU޲ ¹Veterinary praxis Super Pet ²Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Timisoara, Department of Parasitology, 119 Calea Aradului, 300645,Timiaoara, Romania Summary This is the first study in treatment with Advocate in bearded dragon ( Pogona vitticeps ) and for frillneck lizard ( Chlamydosaurus kingii ) that has been made in Roumania. Six bearded dragon ( Pogona vitticeps ) and for frillneck lizard ( Chlamydosaurus kingii ) were examined by clinical method. The faeces samples were examined by direct smear method and Willis method. The pacients were treated with Advocate (imidacloprid and moxidectin), spot-on administration, 0,2 ml/kg, repeated after 14 days (total 3 treatments). The treatment was efficacious and faecal samples were Kalicephalus and Oxiuris negative. Treatment with Advocate did not eliminate Isospora oocysts . Key words : advocate, frillineck lizard, bearded dragon, parasitical infestation In 1972, Ippen revealed that in necropsies performed on over 1100 reptiles from a zoological parc 40% of the specimens were actively infested with parasites; in 79% in this cases parasites were incrimined as the cause of deadh. In 1983, the parasitic lesions were found second to bacterial lesions among necropsy findings in captive reptiles. These dates emphasis the importance of parasites to the rapidly emerging fields of herpetoculture and reptile veterinary medicine. Faecal samples are examined for the presence of protozoans, parasitic ova and larvae. Excretions from the reptile cloaca are often a mixture of urine, urates and faeces. Parasites can be diagnose from faecal smears and flotations, as well as from other samples and by visual inspection (2, 5, 7). Materials and methods This study was performed at the veterinary praxis Super Pet – dr. Ama Groza. The faeces samples were examined by direct smear method and Willis method at the Parasitical Department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Timisoara. Six bearded dragon ( Pogona vitticeps ) – group I - and for frillneck lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii ) – group II - were examined by clinical method (figures 1 and 2). 105 LUCRĂRI ŞTIINłIFICE MEDICINĂ VETERINARĂ VOL. XLII (1), 2009, TIMIŞOARA Fig.1. Pogona vitticeps Fig. 2. Chlamydosaurus kingii (orig.) (orig.) These lizards present with arorexia, weight los and diarrhoea. The faeces samples were collected two times/week. The pacients were treated with Advocate (imidacloprid and moxidectin), spot-on administration, 0,2 ml/kg, repeated after 14 days (total 3 treatments). Advocate is a therapeutical solution for dogs and cats against endoparasites ( Toxocara, Toxascaris, Ancylostoma, Uncinaria, Trichuris , Dirofilaria ) and ectoparasites ( Ctenocephalides, Otodectes, Demodex ). Advocate is not indicated in reptiles. After last treatment, the faeces samples were examined by Willis method. Results and discussions This is the first study in treatment with Advocate in bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps ) and for frillneck lizard ( Chlamydosaurus kingii ) that has been made in Roumania. The coprological exams revealed : Isospora oocysts and Kalicephalus eggs -group 1; Isospora oocysts and Oxiuris spp. eggs – group 2 (figures 3 and 4). Fig.3. Oxiuris (orig.) Fig.4. Isospora, Kalicephalus (orig.) 106 LUCRĂRI ŞTIINłIFICE MEDICINĂ VETERINARĂ VOL. XLII (1), 2009, TIMIŞOARA After treatment with Avocate, the faeces samples were examined for three consecutive Willis method and the results revealed only Isospora oocysts in both lots. The faeces samples were Kalicephalus and Oxiuris negative. Coccidiosis is a common intestinal malady of lizards. Diagnosis is easily made by demonstrating the characteristic oocystsin faecal smears and flotation. Medical treatment is currently limited to sulphur drugs such as sulphadimethoxine and trimethoprim, given every 48 hours. A success rate (complete elimination) of 50% in the treatment of coccidiosis is to be expected (2,3). Treatment with Advocate did not eliminate Isospora oocysts, neither in first group, neither in second group. Hookworms ( Kalicephalus spp.) have a direct life cycle and very little host specifity. Diagnosis is based on finding oval eggs which may be present in high numbers on faecal flotation. The drugs of choice for treating this nematodes are fenbendazole (25-50 mg/kg orally daily for 5 days) and ivermectin (0,2 mg/kg orally, im or sc) (1,4). Oxiuris spp. are common parasites in chelonians and lizards. They have a direct life cycle and are generally thought to be acquired through faeco-oral contamination. Diagnosis is trough seeing the eggs (or adults) in faecal samples. While per-rectal administration of fenbendazole has been advocated oral administration over a period of days in the most efficacious method (2, 5) The results of study performed by Mehlhorn (2005) demonstrated that the registered, recommended 2.5% moxidectin concentration for use in dogs was sufficient to eliminate nematodes and mites in reptiles. Infections with nematodes were successfully treated with a single application (6). We treated with Advocate (imidacloprid and moxidectin), spot-on administration, 0,2 ml/kg, repeated after 14 days (total 3 treatments). This treatment was efficacious and faecal samples were Kalicephalus and Oxiuris negative. Conclusions First time in Roumania, we recomanded Advocate (imidacloprid and moxidectin) that a therapeutical solution in Kalicephalus and Oxiuris infestation in frillneck lizard ( Chlamydosaurus kingii ) and bearded dragon ( Pogona vitticeps ). Advocate (imidacloprid and moxidectin), spot-on administration, 0,2 ml/kg, repeated after 14 days (total 3 treatments) was efficacious and faecal samples were Kalicephalus and Oxiuris negative. Treatment with Advocate did not eliminate Isospora oocysts. 107 LUCRĂRI ŞTIINłIFICE MEDICINĂ VETERINARĂ VOL. XLII (1), 2009, TIMIŞOARA References 1. Bernard, S.M ., A review of some fecal pseudoparasites of reptiles, J. of Zoo Anim. Med., 1983, 14, 606-617. 2. Girling, S., Raiti, P ., Manual of reptiles, Second Edition, BSAVA, 2004. 3. Jacobson, E.R ., Parasitic diseases of reptiles, Curr. Vet. Therapy, 1983, 8, 893-902. 4. Klingenberg, R. J ., Reptile parasites, Proc. of the Assoc. Rept. and Amphib. Vet., 2000, 193 195. 5. Klingenberg, R. J ., Parasitology in Manual of reptiles, BSAVA, 2004, 319- 330. 6. Mehlhorn, H., Schmahl, G., Mevissen, I., Efficacy of a combination of imidacloprid and moxidectin against parasites of reptiles and rodents: Case Reports, Parasitol. Res., 2005, 10, 97-101. 7 O’Maley, B., Clinical anatomy and physiology of exotic species, Elsevier Saunders, 2005. 108 .