Gastric Cryptosporidiosis in Snakes, a Review

Cryptosporidium is a genus of unicellular parasites in the phylum Apicomplexa, which includes well-known genera such as Eimeria and Toxoplasma. Cryptosporidium can persist in the environment for prolonged periods as oocysts. Cryptosporidium serpentis can cause severe, life-threatening gastric disease in snakes known as gastric cryptosporidiosis. This review will provide an overview on the existing knowledge of the biology of the parasite, explain the current treatment and management options for gastric cryptosporidiosis, and describe a synopsis of current and next-generation approaches that could spearhead further research in combating C. serpentis in snakes.