🧫 Coccidia in Reptiles: A Vet’s 2025 Guide to Parasite Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention | Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Coccidia are single-celled intestinal parasites commonly found in reptiles — often unnoticed until your reptile begins to lose weight, stop eating, or pass abnormal droppings. 🐍⚠️

Some coccidia can live quietly in the gut, while others cause deadly disease. In this guide, we’ll cover symptoms, treatment, hygiene, and how to protect your reptiles. 🧬🧽

🔍 What Is Coccidiosis?

Coccidiosis refers to an infection with one or more species of coccidia protozoa. These parasites invade the intestines and can also spread to other organs. 🧫

Infections are usually acquired via the fecal-oral route: your reptile consumes the parasite from contaminated food, water, substrate, or from cage mates. 🐢

Common Symptoms:

• 📉 Weight loss or poor growth
• 💩 Diarrhea or dark, bloody stools
• 😴 Depression or lethargy
• 📛 Sore nose or constant rubbing
• ☠️ Sudden death (in severe cases)

Who’s Most at Risk?

• 🦎 Young reptiles
• 🐍 High-density or mixed-species collections
• 🧽 Reptiles kept in unclean environments

🦎 Species Affected

Coccidia have been found in nearly all species of reptiles. Some notable examples include:

• 🦎 Bearded dragons — Isospora amphiboluri
• 🦎 Veiled chameleons — Choleoeimeria hirbayah, Isospora jaracimrmani
• 🐢 Green turtles — Caryospora chelonae
• 🐍 Boas — Klossiella boae
• 🧠 Intranuclear coccidiosis — affects many organs, especially deadly in tortoises

Some coccidia have direct life cycles (spread from feces), while others have indirect cycles (via insect hosts). 🪳

🔬 Diagnosis

Your vet will start with a physical exam and history, then perform:

• 💩 Fecal flotation (checks for oocysts in stool)
• 🧪 Bloodwork (CBC & chemistry panel)
• 📸 X-rays for impactions or organ inflammation
• 🔍 PCR testing to identify coccidia DNA
• 🔬 Biopsy or tissue analysis in advanced cases

Coccidia can be hard to detect. Multiple samples may be needed for confirmation. 🎯

💊 Treatment

Goals:

• 🛑 Stop parasite shedding
• 💪 Support immune recovery
• 🧽 Prevent reinfection with environmental cleaning

Antiparasitic Medications:

• 💊 Ponazuril (Marquis®)
• 💊 Toltrazuril (Baycox®)
• 💊 Nitazoxanide (Navigator®)
• 💊 Sulfadimethoxine — may reduce but not eliminate oocysts
• 💊 Trimethoprim-sulfa combinations

Pinworm co-infections are common. Your vet may also recommend:

• 💊 Fenbendazole (Panacur®) in 2–3 courses for pinworms

⚠️ Never self-treat — dosages and drug choice vary by species.

🧽 Cleaning Protocol

Coccidia oocysts are tough. They survive for weeks and resist many disinfectants.

Daily Hygiene Musts:

• 🧼 Clean feces immediately
• 🍽️ Discard contaminated food, water, insects
• 🧴 Disinfect with ammonia or vet-approved cleaners
• 🛁 Clean enclosure items and scrub reptile’s ventrum and tail

📊 Follow-Up Testing

For reptiles with direct-life-cycle coccidia (like bearded dragons):

• 🧪 Recheck fecal 2 weeks after treatment
• 📆 Repeat every 6 months for 2 years

Coccidia can return — long-term monitoring is essential. 🧠

🛡️ Prevention

• 🔒 Quarantine all new animals
• 📋 Maintain small, closed colonies
• 🧬 Test breeders and young animals
• 🧼 Clean daily, disinfect weekly
• 🍽️ Feed clean insects, remove uneaten prey
• 🌡️ Provide optimal temps, humidity, and UV lighting

With good husbandry, coccidia outbreaks are avoidable. 🧠🧽

📱 Protect Your Pets with AskAVet.com

Worried about parasites or dirty droppings? Download the Ask A Vet app to chat with exotic veterinarians and get customized fecal testing plans, cleaning advice, and follow-up care guidance. 🐾💬

Parasites can be stealthy — but with good hygiene and early vet care, your reptiles can stay strong and coccidia-free. 🦎💚