Heavy parasite load found in ball python from Ed Clark

On November 1, 2006 I received a group of 2005 female ball pythons from Ed Clark in trade for some crested geckos. Ed told me that they were captive bred and assured me that "all [his] stuff is as clean as you will find" and, as he was in good standing with the reptile community at the time, I took his word for it.

Last Thursday one of these females passed something in a bit of runny stool that I had never seen before (see photo below). I took the snake and the suspect tapeworm to the vet Friday morning. The vet ran a fecal sample and confirmed tapeworms along with strongyloides and a high number of coccidia.

The snakes in question are 2005 females that eat very well, yet haven't put on much weight since I have had them. They have not been in direct contact with any of the other snakes in my collection, nor do they share prey items. I have had fecals done on several other snakes recently, all of which were clean. The only snakes that I have added to my collection since acquiring these girls are 2 cbb ball pythons that I got in Daytona several weeks ago; these snakes are currently in quarantine.

This is proof enough for me that the snakes I received from Ed were infested with parasites at the time I received them. I should have been wise enough to run fecals on them immediately even though, at the time, I trusted the source.

The point of my post is not to start drama or debate, but to inform those who have also purchased from Ed Clark that their snakes may also be carrying a heavy parasite load. Regardless of the source, always get a fecal done for the sake of your animals!

A question Emily. Did Ed say the animals were captive bred or captive born?

please post all correspondence from this transaction. Or any documentation you may have to prove this accusation.

Have you alerted Ed to this thread yet?

You bought the snakes in Nov. 2006... basically 10 months ago. A lot of things could happen in that amount of time. Mice/rats carry tapeworms just as humans do. Unfortunately tapeworms are very common, my bet would be they came from a mouse/rat. Maybe that rat was fed to the snake at Ed's place, but likely he was unaware of it. If the snake doesn't have outward symptoms of illness there would be no reason for him to suspect a problem.

Ed stated that the snakes were captive bred. I will post all correspondence shortly (e-mails).

The kind of tapeworm that infects reptiles is different from the tapeworm that infects mammals. The snake has the reptilian version of the tapeworm along with strongyloides and coccidia.

I was assured before the trade that these snakes were clean, therefore I expected to receive clean snakes.

Originally Posted by cookreptiles

Ed stated that the snakes were captive bred. I will post all correspondence shortly (e-mails).

The kind of tapeworm that infects reptiles is different from the tapeworm that infects mammals. The snake has the reptilian version of the tapeworm along with strongyloides and coccidia.

I was assured before the trade that these snakes were clean, therefore I expected to receive clean snakes.

are you able to also post vet reports stating that is what these animals have?

Originally Posted by cookreptiles

The kind of tapeworm that infects reptiles is different from the tapeworm that infects mammals. The snake has the reptilian version of the tapeworm along with strongyloides and coccidia.

That statement isn't actually 100% correct as tapeworms are transmitted via ingestion of a vertebrate or mammalian intermediate host.

Internal Parasites - Cestodes
Tapeworms

1. Ingestion of a vertebrate or mammalian intermediate host
2. In large #’s they can cause secondary malnutrition, inflammation, enteritis, and mechanical obstruction
3. Diagnosis: eggs on fecal flotation, detection of proglottids in stool, visibly seeing a tapeworm passed

Internal Parasites - Nematodes
Strongyloides

1. Infected through percutaneous penetration by larvae or oral ingestion
2. Cause GI irritation and diarrhea
3. Respiratory distress may occur occasionally due to larval migration through the lungs
4. Diagnosis: larvae presence in fresh feces

Internal Parasites - Protozoan
Coccidia (Eimeria, Isospora)

1. Ingested of contaminated water and food and also from the environment as possible infection
2. Symptoms vary from mild diarrhea to death
3. Diagnosis: oocysts of fresh stool samples

Important Hygiene Factors

1. Prevent fecal accumulation
2. Cleanliness is essential
3. Prevent exposure to contaminated water
4. Don’t allow for “musical food”
5. Provide adequate quarantine protocol
6. Maintain adequate personal hygiene

Originally Posted by bullfrog100000

You bought the snakes in Nov. 2006... basically 10 months ago. A lot of things could happen in that amount of time. Mice/rats carry tapeworms just as humans do. Unfortunately tapeworms are very common, my bet would be they came from a mouse/rat. Maybe that rat was fed to the snake at Ed's place, but likely he was unaware of it. If the snake doesn't have outward symptoms of illness there would be no reason for him to suspect a problem.

I agree,Anything can happen in that amount of time.

ed has been contacted about the situation via a pm here on 9-15-07:

Originally Posted by cookreptiles

hi ed,

remember the group of female ball pythons that you sent me last year in trade for a group of cresteds? one of them passed a mass of tapeworms yesterday so i took her to the vet today. a fecal found tapeworms, strongiloides and a high number of coccidia.

the girls all eat great but none of them have really gained much weight, which makes sense now. i have had fecals done on a few of my other snakes in the recent past, which all came out clear. my other snakes are also all growing normally, so i am almost 100% certain that the only snakes that have internal parasites are the ones i received from you. i will be having fecals done on all of my snakes over the next few weeks in order to confirm this.

i wanted to let you know this so you can take the necessary measures to test and treat your collection, especially since coccidia is fairly serious. i feel that this is something that others with snakes that came from you should know, so that they can test and treat their snakes as well. i hope that you will take the initiative to issue a public alert, however, should you choose not to do so, i will post a warning so that people can take the appropriate action.

thanks,
emily cook

ed's reply:

Originally Posted by ECLARK

Emily, thanks for the message. dont remember if the Balls that I sent you were captive bred or captive hatched. will look into it to find out and get back to you.

my reply:

Originally Posted by cookreptiles

hi ed,

you had said that they were cb from your collection and that you were letting a bunch of your younger females go to make space for new morphs.

thanks for looking into it,
emily

i will scan the vet report tomorrow and post it here.

i did not buy imports. i traded for captive bred snakes.

i do realize that it has been some time since i received these snakes, however, in that amount of time, with no exposure to parasites since being in my care, how would this snake suddenly get tapeworms, strongyloides and a heavy infestation of coccidia?

i am not asking for any compensation from ed. i am only posting this as a warning to others who have purchased from him so that they can take the proper care to get their own snakes tested and treated as necessary.

i am not asking for any compensation from ed. i am only posting this as a warning to others who have purchased from him so that they can take the proper care to get their own snakes tested and treated as necessary.

I can understand and respect that. But think about something for a minute. Reverse the situation, and let's say that someone bought some geckos from you and 10 months later they contacted you to tell you the geckos had _____ (coccidia, crypto, hookworms, whatever). Then that person posted the information on here, on the BOI, for all the reptile hobby to read, that you "might" have parasitic or disease ridden geckos. Surely you would be upset if the tables were turned...