Question: Parasitic Larvae & Protozoa and Disinfecting/Sanitizing?

[irThumper]

Ok, well I've read in more than one forum on Chams and Beardies that coccidia oocysts are NOT killed by bleach and only an ammonia based cleaner will eradicate it on nonporous surfaces. I did read in another post that someone found that high powered Hydrogen peroxide (used in salons for hair bleaching) apparently did the trick in his Cham's (or Beardie, I forget which one now, lol) tank and he's been coccidiosis "free" since 2008, living in same said tank.

My question is this, though-- I started reading the article on How to Do a Fecal Exam Frog Forum - How to do Fecal Exams and took note of this statement:

"The effects of salt solutions on parasite shape should be understood. Hypertonic solutions draw water from the bodies of larval parasites and parasitic protozoa killing them and distorting their outlines to such an extent that they may no longer look like typical parasitic species. This can make these organisms difficult to identify. The fecal exam must be done as soon as possible after it is prepared to minimize the time that the organisms are exposed to the distorting solution."

I got to be thinking about that and the possibility of using Epsom salts for disinfecting tanks, but then again there's that "oocyst" question again... would they or would they not be killed by the salts (as mentioned above) though apparently bleach won't effect them?

[deranged chipmunk]

i responded to your other post about disinfection, but i will ask here as well. are we talking about an operating enclosure? or an empty one?

[irThumper]

i responded to your other post about disinfection, but i will ask here as well. are we talking about an operating enclosure? or an empty one?

Both, as I want to be able to do a good cleaning on a tank currently being used (minimalist/basically a QT set up) and also tanks I buy from like Goodwill or CL that have had who-knows-what in them.

[Crunchy Frog]

They have some good stuff at BeardedDragon.co. I recently purchased something called Quaternary Coccicidal Disinfectant from them, which allegedly kills most pathogens including coccidia that bleach won't kill. Coccicidal Concentrated Disinfectant 8oz. They have a more heavy duty product as well, which also kills coccidia. Professional Concentrated Disinfectant 8 oz

The site has some good stuff that you may want to check out.

[irThumper]

Sounds good, I'll check those out. Thanks!

[JeffreH]

I think the product Cruncy Frog posted should be good. Quaternary ammonia is my favorite as well. Much less corrosive than other cleaners and does a good job of eradicating many pathogens. We use this in the lab:
http://www.cleanroomconnection.com/c...-disinfectant/

As for the idea of desiccation using epsom salts or something similar... I don't think that will work. Both bacterial and protozoan cycsts are rather well protected from desiccation. It might pose a threat to the free-living form, but I think the cycts (which will presumably be on surfaces in the enclosures) won't be all that affected. Just speculating, though. We have to use an autoclave with extreme moist heat and pressure to eliminate most oocysts.

[irThumper]

Thanks for the info Lab? Do you know anything about parasitology? I've been reading as much online as I can find about intestinal parasites of anurans... not having an easy time finding info, most is either reptile based or other species of critter. This is a great article here, although based on animals other than herps-- very eye opening Fecal flotation for detecting parasite burdens in faeces. I want to invest in my own microscope and learn how to conduct the fecal tests for my frogs with samples right out of the chute! Even then there are soooo many variables, but at least I will see things first hand, and with the right equipment will be able to save video/photos to show to a vet Amscope B120C E 40x 2500x LED Digital Binocular Compound Microscope with 3D Sta | eBay