Successful treatment of Anchor Worm (Lernaea cyprinacea) using Lufenuron in the Mexican Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

MacHale, Jack; Hedley, Joanna

Abstract

A 3-year-old, female, captive Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) presented with a significant Lernaea infestation. The animal had a history of poor husbandry prior to being rescued by the current owner. The axolotl was anesthetised using a buffered 0.15% tricaine methanesulfonate (MS15 222) immersion bath and then moved to a buffered 0.1% MS-222 bath for maintenance. The adult anchor worms were removed manually under anesthesia. Following recovery, the axolotl enclosure was treated with 0.1mg/L lufenuron, which was added to the water once a week for five treatments. Six months following treatment there has been no recurrence of the Lernaea infestation. This is the first documentation of successful treatment of Lernaea in the Mexican axolotl using lufenuron.

Citation

MacHale, J., & Hedley, J. (2021). Successful treatment of Anchor Worm (Lernaea cyprinacea) using Lufenuron in the Mexican Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum). Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, 31(2), 107-110. https://doi.org/10.5818/JHMS-04-2020

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 2, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 2, 2021
• Publication Date: May 2, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery
• Print ISSN: 1529-9651
• Publisher: Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 107-110
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5818/JHMS-04-2020
• Keywords: Ambystoma mexicanum; lufenuron; Lernaea; anchor; worm
• Publisher URL: https://meridian.allenpress.com/jhms/article-abstract/31/2/107/468466/Successful-Treatment-of-Anchor-Worm-Lernaea?redirectedFrom=fulltext