Cryptosporidium in snakes with hypertrophic gastritis. Vet. Pathol

Abstract. Fourteen captive snakes of three genera and four species had severe chronic hypertrophic gastritis. Persistent postprandial regurgitation and firm midbody swelling were the most common clinical signs. Fecal smears had many roughly spherical organisms confirmed by ultrastructural study to be oocysts of Cryprosporidiurn. Pathologic changes included hypertrophy of gastric mucosa and atrophy of granular cells. There were cystic changes in gastric glands and focal mucosal necrosis. Many Cryptosporidiurn lined microv-illar surfaces. All developmental forms were identified by ultrastructure. Characteristic oocysts were found in abundance. Tyzzer first described coccidia of the genus Cryptosporidium in the stomach of mice in 1907 [23]. Since then, these protozoa have been reported in turkeys [19]