Many different species of parasitic worms can affect amphibians. Symptoms of worm infestations vary wildly depending on the organ system involved. Worms can be intestinal, pulmonary, coelomic, cutaneous, visceral, ocular, circulatory, and more.
Often symptoms are non-specific and include weight loss and unthriftiness or even sudden death. Intestinal worms may cause diarrhea, bloating, and tadpoles may exhibit buoyancy problems caused by gas in the intestinal tract. Amphibians with pulmonary worms may have excessive mucus in the backs of their throats. When present in the skin, worms can cause white pimple-like blisters and bumps as well as sores and ulcers. Nodules may also appear on the skin. Worms may also invade the eye in cases of what is referred to as visceral migrans. Low levels may not have clinical signs. Superinfections can occur with stress or overcrowding.
Other causes of weight loss include chronic stress, protozoal parasites (coccidiosis, amoebiasis, flagellate infection), bacterial infection (i.e. mycobacteriosis), malnutrition, and starvation. Poor water quality, trauma, mycobacteriosis, chromomycosis, and bacterial septicemia can also cause skin lesions. Bloating may be also caused by bacterial infection, kidney or liver failure, and cancer.
During physical examination your veterinarian by perform transillumination using a bright light to visualize worms through your amphibian’s skin and abnormalities within internal organs. Fecal parasite examination is often also recommended. For skin lesion a skin scrape may be performed. If excessive fluid is present in the body cavity this may be sampled for microscopic examination.
Treatment is specific to the parasite that is diagnosed using prescription anti-parasitic medications. Physical removal of worms from under the skin under anesthesia is often performed when skin lesions are present. Antibiotics are usually prescribed to combat secondary bacterial infections. Nutritional support may be necessary for animals not willing to eat. Any necessary improvements in care are also important in the recovery process.
Unfortunately, many worms are resistant to therapy and treatment often reduces the number but does not cure the infestation.
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