Intestinal Parasites

                     --------------------



Hamsters frequently harbor tapeworms within their small

intestines.



Heavy infections may cause weight loss.  Lighter infections

usually go undetected unless pieces of the worms pass out of the

hamster's anus or appear in the feces.



People can become infected with the same organism.  Tapeworms can

be transmitted to uninfected hamsters (or people) when feces

harboring tapeworm eggs are inadvertently eaten.  This

underscores the importance of restricting access to hamsters and

their enclosures by very young children.  All such encounters

should be carefully monitored.



Hamster owners suspicious of this parasite problem should submit

a fecal sample to a veterinarian for analysis.  The presence of

tapeworm eggs in the sample (noted microscopically) confirms the

diagnosis.  Treatment can be instituted by the veterinarian.



Pinworms are a less common intestinal parasitism of hamsters.

These extremely tiny worms reside within the large intestines and

usually cause no signs at all.



Pinworm infections can be diagnosed by a veterinarian by

microscopic examination of the feces.  Pinworm eggs passing from

the anus of the hamster sometimes cause intense itching in this

area.  A veterinarian may be able to detect the presence of

pinworm eggs by pressing cellophane tape to this area and

examining it under the microscope.  Pinworms of hamsters do not

cause disease in people.