title: Ivermectin toxicosis in a chameleon (Chamaeleo senegalensis) infected with Foleyella furcata.
abstract: Both male and female Foleyella furcata were found in the subcutaneous tissue and abdominal cavity of an adult male wild-caught Senegalese chameleon (Chamaeleo senegalensis). This nematode species is endemic to Madagascar but has never been recorded from the continent of Africa. Prior to the chameleon's death, a migrating worm was seen under the skin in the abdominal and thoracic region. Huge numbers of small, sheathed microfilariae were detected in the blood smears. The chameleon was treated with a single dose (0.2 mg/kg s.c.) of ivermectin. Serious adverse reactions (complete inertia) developed within 24 hr after injection and lasted for 7 days, indicating either ivermectin toxicity or a systemic reaction involving the release of endotoxins from the microfilariae dying in the bloodstream as a result of parasiticide therapy. Therefore, ivermectin treatment of chameleons infected with Foleyella should be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, PO Box 2, H-1400 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Széll
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sréter
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Varga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005369:Filaricides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides; D007559:Ivermectin