Tongue worm (subclass: Pentastomida) infection and treatment in two domesticated reptiles - A case report.

Tongue worms (Subclass: Pentastomida) are endoparasites found in carnivorous reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals. Several pentastomids cause pentastomiasis, a zoonotic disease. We encountered tongue worm infection in two reptiles imported into Japan: a Wahlberg's velvet gecko (Homopholis wahlbergii) bred in Germany and a wild-caught green tree python (Morelia viridis) from the Republic of Indonesia. The infecting tongue worms were identified as Raillietiella sp. and Armillifer sp. in the gecko and python, respectively, based on morphological and molecular analyses. Gecko is a newly recorded definitive host harboring Raillietiella tongue worm. Live tongue worms were first detected in domestic reptiles in Japan, and this indicates a risk that these tongue worms could be spread to other animals, as well as humans. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of infected pets are of importance. In the case of the two infected reptiles, the availability of fecal egg examination for diagnosis was shown. In addition, the effectiveness of treatment with 200 µg/kg/day ivermectin orally once weekly was demonstrated, without no side-effects and no re-detection of eggs after the cessation of treatment.

First demonstration of Strongyloides parasite from an imported pet meerkat - Possibly a novel species in the stercoralis/procyonis group.

Strongyloides is a genus of parasitic nematodes of vertebrates that contains over 50 species, each with a variable host range. A recent molecular phylogenetic analysis on this genus showed that Strongyloides spp. from various carnivore hosts form a strongly supported clade together with Strongyloides stercoralis, a major pathogen of humans and dogs (named the "stercoralis/procyonis group"). In the present study, we obtained DNA sequencing data of Strongyloides sp. isolated from an imported meerkat (Suricata suricatta). Based on the phylogenetic analysis, we considered this a new member of the stercoralis/procyonis group. This study represents the first isolation and molecular characterization of a Strongyloides species from hosts belonging to the family Herpestidae (mongooses and meerkat). However, whether the meerkat serves as a natural host of this Strongyloides species remains to be investigated.

First report of ophidiomycosis in Asia caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in captive snakes in Japan.

Ophidiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, which has been affecting wild and captive snakes in North America, Europe, and Australia. We report 12 cases of suspected ophidiomycosis in captive colubrid snakes in Japan. Pathological and microbiological examinations were performed, and the results confirmed the diagnosis of ophidiomycosis in two snakes, which indicated that the remaining sympatrically raised snakes also had ophidiomycosis since they exhibited similar lesions. This is the first report of ophidiomycosis in Asia caused by O. ophiodiicola. To prevent the expansion of ophidiomycosis in the natural environment in Japan, there is a need to evaluate the ophidiomycosis carrier status of imported snakes, the pathogenicity of the infection in native snakes, and the prevalence and distribution of O. ophiodiicola in wild and captive snakes. Measures also must be taken to prevent endemicity globally.

Survey of tortoises with urolithiasis in Japan.

Urolithiasis is a disease often seen in tortoises at veterinary hospitals, however there have been no comprehensive research reports of tortoises with urolithiasis in Japan. In this study, we analyzed tortoises diagnosed with urolithiasis at three domestic veterinary hospitals. Based on medical records, we assessed the diagnostic method, species, sex, body weight, dietary history, husbandry, clinical signs, clinical examination, treatment for urolithiasis, and clinical outcome. The total number of cases in the 3 facilities was 101. As for species of tortoises, the most common was the African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) with 42 cases (41.6%), followed by the Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) with 30 cases (29.7%). Six other species were confirmed to have calculi. Almost all cases (99 cases, 98%) had a single calculus, and only 2 had multiple calculi. The prevalence of urolithiasis for the total number of tortoises having visited to one institution during the same period was 5.1%. Of the 86 cases that underwent calculi removal, 64 (74.4%) were successfully removed via the vent, and the efficacy of this method was confirmed. Nineteen cases (22%) were approached via plastronotomy, among which only 2 died postoperatively. In this study, we could not clarify the relationship between calculi formation and diets or other husbandry factors.

Molecular identification of Cryptosporidium isolates from ill exotic pet animals in Japan including a new subtype in Cryptosporidium fayeri.

Cryptosporidium is an obligate intracellular parasite which can cause fatal diarrheal disease in exotic animals. Sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera), and common leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are popular exotic animals commonly sold in pet shops in Japan. We herein investigated the species and subtypes of Cryptosporidium in these animals. Cryptosporidium fayeri was detected in a sugar glider in a Japanese animal hospital. Sequence analyses of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene revealed that C. fayeri belonged to subtype family IVh (IVhA13G2T1), which was proposed to be a new subtype. This is the first study to report C. fayeri infection in a sugar glider. In other animals, the Cryptosporidium horse genotype, C. ubiquitum, and C. varanii were detected in two four-toed hedgehogs (A. albiventris), a chinchilla (C. lanigera), and common leopard gecko (E. macularius), respectively. The gp60 subtypes identified were VIbA13 of the horse genotype and XIId of C. ubiquitum. The present results revealed that potentially zoonotic Cryptosporidium is widespread in exotic animals in Japan.