My baby ball python died the other night of an internal parasitic infestation. I had not managed to get her to feed since i acquired her around April/May of this year. She never ate before i bought her to my knowledge and never shed while i had her. I tried everything I could to no avail and now I'm worried that the rest of my colloection could be at risk. I have quarantined them all in separate room and disinfected the place where they were kept. I am also re-housing all of the snakes that were in the same room as the Ball and cleaning their cages with a boiling water/light bleach mixture to be sure they are disinfected. If anyone could help me identify the type of parasite that did this I could research them and find out how contagious they are as well as how to better prevent this from happening to the rest of my pets as well as what to look for in the future. I have posted 2 pics to help identify the culprits, be warned they are graphic images but I know a professional will be able to stomach it and help me identify the parasites. I've included a description below in case the pics are not detailed enough for proper analysis. Thanks for all your help.
The parasites seem to have originated within the body of the animal, not from an external source. The speicmen wan lying in a pool of its own bile/bodily fluids. Body seems deflated and has been split open in several places on the belly where the parasites emerged. There are at least two dozen greyish-white wormlike creatures crawling in and out of the body. I cannot locate any organs it seems as though the parasites consumed them and completely filled the snake's little body. They are about 1" long and 1/4" in diameter and do not like the light. They crawl inside the body and hide beneath it when disturbed. Lower jaw of the specimen seems broken and there were some bones protruding near the head. It's eyes went a dirty greyish-yellow colour and the smell is putrid. (Not unlike any dead animal though) Any thoughts you have as to what these are and what risks are associated with them would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.
The parasites seem to have originated within the body of the animal, not from an external source. The speicmen wan lying in a pool of its own bile/bodily fluids. Body seems deflated and has been split open in several places on the belly where the parasites emerged. There are at least two dozen greyish-white wormlike creatures crawling in and out of the body. I cannot locate any organs it seems as though the parasites consumed them and completely filled the snake's little body. They are about 1" long and 1/4" in diameter and do not like the light. They crawl inside the body and hide beneath it when disturbed. Lower jaw of the specimen seems broken and there were some bones protruding near the head. It's eyes went a dirty greyish-yellow colour and the smell is putrid. (Not unlike any dead animal though) Any thoughts you have as to what these are and what risks are associated with them would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.