National Repository of Grey Literature 2 records found  Search took 0.00 seconds. 
Feeding insects as a passive vector of coccidian oocysts in reptile breeds
TOTUŠKOVÁ, Gabriela
Representatives of Coccidia (Coccidia) from the family Eimeridae are common intracellular parasites in reptile breeding. In central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), the most common species are Isospora amphiboluri and Choleoeimeria pogonae with a monoxenic life cycle. They are primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract of the host and can cause severe coccidiosis and death in animals. The infective agents of coccidia are resistant exogenous oocysts that are shed in faeces and serve to infect other hosts. Their transmission is by the orofecal route, during which infective oocysts are taken into the body of a new host with contaminated food or water. When live feeding insects are left in terrariums for long periods of time without access to a food source, the insects can become a passive vector of coccidia infection after consuming infected feces. The aim of this study was to test the ability of foraging insects to passage coccidian oocysts in their gastrointestinal system and to attempt to determine differences during passage between different taxa of foraging insects (Blattodea, Coleoptera, Orthoptera). The results of the experiment showed the passaging of viable oocysts of coccidia of the genera Isospora and Choleoeimeria in the digestive tract of feeding insects. The cricket Gryllus asimillis passaged the most oocysts, followed by the cockroach Blaptica dubia and the least passaging was detected in the larval stage of the beetle Zophobas morio.

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