THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF HYPERIMMUNE BOVINE COLOSTRUM TREATMENT AGAINST CLINICAL AND SUBCLINICAL CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-SERPENTIS INFECTIONS IN CAPTIVE SNAKES

Citation
Tk. Graczyk et al., THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF HYPERIMMUNE BOVINE COLOSTRUM TREATMENT AGAINST CLINICAL AND SUBCLINICAL CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-SERPENTIS INFECTIONS IN CAPTIVE SNAKES, Veterinary parasitology, 74(2-4), 1998, pp. 123-132
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Parasitiology,"Veterinary Sciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
03044017
Volume
74
Issue
2-4
Year of publication
1998
Pages
123 - 132
Database
ISI
SICI code
0304-4017(1998)74:2-4<123:TEOHBC>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
Therapy based on the protective passive immunity of Hyperimmune Bovine Colostrum (HBC) (raised against Cryptosporidium parvum in dairy cows immunized during gestation) was tested for heterologous efficacy in su bclinical and clinical infections of 12 captive snakes with C. serpent is. Six gastric HBC treatments of 1% snake weight at 1-week. intervals each, have histologically cleared C. serpentis in three subclinically infected snakes, and regressed gastric histopathological changes in o ne of these snakes. In all snakes, each subsequent HBC treatment signi ficantly decreased the number of oocysts recovered in gastric lavage e luants (P < 0.03). The treatments induced oocyst-negative gastric elua nts and stools in all snakes, and improved clinical signs of infection . Clinically infected snakes displayed severe histopathological change s in the gastric region; however, the numbers of developmental stages of C. serpentis were moderate. Considering the severity of pathology, much lower than expected pathogen numbers were observed, and it is bel ieved that clinically infected snakes did not have enough time to repa ir tissue damage that had occurred over the years of infection. As the HBC treatment was safe and highly efficacious, it is recommended to g astrically administer the HBC therapeutically to snakes that ari: clin ically or subclinically infected with C. serpentis. Hyperimmune bovine colostrum can also be used in snake supportive therapy or prophylaxis . (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.