Joe Schmidt/Chad Fuchs and Cryptosporidium!

also I would like to point out that many breeders still feed WC frogs and lizards, frog scenting etc.. this is hugely problematic. Until breeders stop using WC then it will be difficult to prevent. Most dont even tell their customers, most dont even do a fecal afterwards.

My routine..which Im sure can be improved.
Isolate all animals until breeding age as much as possible. I simply do not let animals use the same anything.

I have a small cb barking tree frog colony for the ones that just wont take unscented

95% of the time I use canned scents like salmon, tuna , and vienna sausage.

use disposable water bowls

keep records of who what when where and why

have a strong UVB wand or source

I prewash then rewash everything with dawn and chlorohexidine in high heat.. Im anal.
I have a old school dish washer that gets 160F+ and heat dries. It will melt many plastics on this setting. Most reptile brand delicups cant take it so I use a restaurant supply store near my home and buy the expensive "solo brand" ones that take high heat and lids dont break after the 30th tug.

All babies are kept in food grade delicups that can go through the washer on this setting.

I use pyrethrin strips if I see gnats and use routinely to control dust mites.. I have a slight allergy to dust mites so I personally like my room cleaner.

I also have hydrogen peroxide,bleach ,chloro and ammonia if I feel it is needed.

We use laytex gloves

We dont clean when we feed or water

Always clean the tops, some forget that part

Use a large industrial carbon filter for air quality

Always use 4-5 stage RO for clean water

Since I live in Texas Ill prewash with a hose and set in direct sun in the 90-105F heat for a few hours, then do the above.

We keep multiple fans in the room for high ventilation and allow for quick drying of feces..gives gnats hell and helps achieve my no condensation rule.

Never ever top off waterbowls.

Always thaw in hot water, cleaner the food the better.

Daily cleaning is key to prevent gnats and to keep hognose cages clean. We call it spot cleaning. Takes no time!!

I am sure a lot can be added to this..

Originally Posted by DrChad

We perform this testing for zoos, breeders etc on a daily basis.

Really, daily? A brief search of your name shows a Chad Lytle as a technical manager associated with Crisp Labs (is that you?) which does mostly asbestos and industrial lab reports (and one of the Crisp Labs lost a suit when it submitted an erroneous asbestos report that caused financial damage to a large company).

I suggest to those interested that they research any labs prior to use to make sure that their money is well spent. Perhaps Crisp Labs does so, perhaps not.
Perhaps an info post requesting high caliber labs might be a better place to discuss the issue.

My search returned a different result. I am a suspicious person so a new name with unconfirmed accreditation made me curious as well, but I felt better from my findings than yours. See this article: https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/lo.../287-509564697

Specifically this quote:
Chad Lytle has a Ph.D in molecular biology. He works at Research Associates Laboratory in Allen, Texas. They're going to DNA test this thing.

Originally Posted by AllisonLeigh

My search returned a different result.

I'm glad you researched as well. I suggest that whatever lab one uses, that one research the lab first for quality and use one that is familiar with the particular test. I would not necessarily, for instance, chose Crisp Lab or any lab without further research.

Originally Posted by Lucille

Really, daily? A brief search of your name shows a Chad Lytle as a technical manager associated with Crisp Labs (is that you?) which does mostly asbestos and industrial lab reports (and one of the Crisp Labs lost a suit when it submitted an erroneous asbestos report that caused financial damage to a large company).

I suggest to those interested that they research any labs prior to use to make sure that their money is well spent. Perhaps Crisp Labs does so, perhaps not.
Perhaps an info post requesting high caliber labs might be a better place to discuss the issue.

This is the website for Research Associates Laboratory.

http://www.vetdna.com/

Chad Lytle, Ph.D., is a molecular biologist for RAL

I left Crisp analytical labs years ago when the company was sold.

Originally Posted by Justin Mitcham

I am sure a lot can be added to this..

I don't see much of anything could be added to this routine !

How many snakes are you working with ? How many people do you have working with you that do all of this all the time ?

Is this all you do or are you working a 'day job' too ? Either way, you have a very impressive routine and it's too bad very few others can or will follow something like this. I find it incredible you're able to control gnats/flies as well as you do. That has always been a problem during the warmer months at least on the east coast in collections not kept in basement set ups.

For most to follow such a routine, collections would have to be limited to very few animals ... which I agree with for the most part ... I think a lot people try and do too many animals.

And the thing is to make this really work .... EVERYBODY has to start with diease free animals (is there such a thing ?) , follow a protocol like yours to the letter, have routine fecals / necropsies, have shows that demand critical vet inspections, etc. and of course this will never happen. That was attempted years ago and just didn't work ... it's all cost prohibitive. The last necropsy I needed was over 15 years ago and it was over $400.00 with inconclusive results. Guys then thought I was nuts for having it done ... and i'm sure that is the way most see it.

The whiole thing has just become so big ... there are too many breeding and selling, too many shows, too many WC animals mixed in to keep it all 'clean'.

So what's the answer ?? ?? I don't think there is one. I can't speak for everyone but personally I stopped going to shows, buying from anyone I don't know / referred to by a few good friends or could drive to do do the deal in person.

And still that's no guarentee you'll heve a problem free collection of animals.

With over 20 years as an industrial microbiologist, accreditation specialist and a molecular biologist I may add. Yes research Associates Laboratory performs molecular diagnostics daily for zoos, pathologists, veterinarians etc. cryptosporidium as well as over 600 diagnostic tests are performed.

Thank you Jim,I actually dont keep as many hogs as most people think, I do pretty well with a smallish number about 30.50 + or - with portion being yearling or juvi raising up. Hatching season I produce about 300-500.. biggest years maybe up to 700ish, mostly just me and the wife who do all the work. Its a full time job between hatchlings and adults, emails and txt msg, fb etc..
At 500+ head it really becomes well unpleasant.. all the scenting and hogs need to be offered 2-3x per week..if you open a container 4x a week well Im sure you can add. Expensive too..pinkys arnt .15 anymore lol going through 1000 a week is no fun especially when some dont want to eat at 1st.