Bumps on my small Spring Peeper -- anyone know what they are?

[Bill B]

 

[Bill B]

Got this response from a PhD university parasitologist.

Based on what I can see, it looks as if the bumps are caused by larval trematodes (metacercariae). The peeper became infected when it was in the pond breeding. Larval stages of the digenetic trematode called cercariae left an aquatic snail (wher the trematodes undergo larval development) and penetrated the frog. Piscivorous birds are the definitive hosts and become infected when they eat the infected frog. If you want to catch and freeze an infected peeper, I would be happy to look at it to make sure. I could probably identify the metacercariae to genus. Only if the metacercariae occur in very high numbers will they injure the frog. hope this helps

 

[jclee]

Poor Guy. Did the parasitologist offer any options for treatment?

Make sure you're not cross-contaminating with your other pets. Keep that little guy and all of his gear, etc. isolated. I'd probably sanitize my hands afterward, just in case.

 

[Bill B]

Poor Guy. Did the parasitologist offer any options for treatment?

Make sure you're not cross-contaminating with your other pets. Keep that little guy and all of his gear, etc. isolated. I'd probably sanitize my hands afterward, just in case.

Because of the life cycles of these parasites, I am told by the parasitologist that it is not transferable to other amphibians in my collection.

 

[Bill B]

Poor Guy. Did the parasitologist offer any options for treatment?

Make sure you're not cross-contaminating with your other pets. Keep that little guy and all of his gear, etc. isolated. I'd probably sanitize my hands afterward, just in case.

A veterinarian I know (and Willlis knows, too) said that treatment is usually done either with formalin (with possible toxic effects to the amphibian) or Praziquantel.