Issue 4
Salmonella
Bacteria and Reptiles
This handout has been reproduced from the Association of Reptile
and Amphibian Veterinarians.
Most, if not all, reptiles carry Salmonella bacteria in their intestinal
tracts and intermittently or continuously shed these bacteria in
their feces. Salmonella bacteria usually do not cause illness in
reptiles but can cause serious illness in people.
Salmonella bacteria are easily spread from reptiles to humans.
Humans become infected when they place their hands or other objects
in their mouths including food items that have been in contact with
reptile feces.
For example, infants have become infected after drinking bottles
of infant formula that became contaminated during preparation, because
individuals who prepared the formula had not washed their hands
after touching a reptile or because reptiles were allowed to walk
on kitchen counters.
For Salmonella bacteria to spread from reptiles to humans, the
bacteria must be ingested. Therefore, simply touching or holding
a reptile will not result in spread of bacteria unless something
contaminated with reptile feces or the reptile itself is placed
in the mouth.
Most Salmonella infections in humans are mild, self-limiting illnesses
characterized by diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. However,
infection can spread to the bloodstream, bone marrow or nervous
system, leading to severe, and sometimes fatal, illness. Such severe
infections are more likely in infants and individuals with a compromised
immune system (for instance, bone marrow transplant recipients,
people with diabetes mellitus, people infected with HIV and chemotherapy
patients).
Unfortunately, Salmonella bacteria cannot be eliminated from the
intestinal tract of reptiles. Administration of antibiotics to eliminate
these bacteria has been unsuccessful and may result in emergence
of Salmonella bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Attempts
to raise or identify reptiles that do not carry Salmonella bacteria
have also been unsuccessful; therefore, bacterial culture of fecal
specimens in an attempt to identify reptiles that are not carrying
Salmonella bacteria is not recommended.
Fortunately, the spread of Salmonella bacteria from reptiles to
humans can be easily prevented by using the following precautions:
- Always wash your hands with hot, soapy water after handling
reptiles, reptile cages and equipment, and stool from reptiles.
- Do not allow reptiles to have access to the kitchen, dining
room, or any other area in which food is prepared, Also, do not
allow reptiles to have access to bathroom sinks and bathtubs or
to any area where infants are bathed.
Consider keeping your reptiles caged or restricting them to certain
parts of the house only. Always wash your hands after coming into
contact with any area where reptiles are allowed to roam free.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling reptiles, reptile
cages or reptile equipment. Do not kiss reptiles or share food
to drink with them.
- Do not use the kitchen sink, kitchen counters, bathroom sink
or bathtub to bathe reptiles or to wash reptile cages, dishes
or aquariums.
Reptile owners may wish to purchase a plastic basin or tub in
which to bathe or swim their reptiles. Waste water and fecal material
should be disposed of in the toilet instead of the bathtub or
household sink.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that
children less than five years old avoid contact with reptiles
and that households with children less than one year old not own
reptiles. The Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians
encourages reptile owners with young children to discuss steps
to minimize risks associated with owning reptiles with their veterinarian
and their physician.
Children should be supervised when they are handling reptiles
to ensure that they do not place in their mouths, their hands
or objects that a reptiles has contacted. Reptiles should not
be kept in child care centers.
- Immunocompromised people should avoid contact with reptiles.
- Follow instructions from your reptile's veterinarian concerning
proper diet and environment for your reptile. Healthy reptiles
living in proper environments are less likely to shed Salmonella
bacteria.
Information in this handout is not meant to discourage reptile
ownership. With a few exceptions (e.g., infants and immunocompromised
individuals), most people have a low risk of acquiring salmonellosis
from reptiles, but this risk can be reduced even further by following
simple precautions. Reptiles can be safely kept as pets, but reptile
owners should be aware of methods for reducing the risk of acquiring
Salmonella bacteria from their reptiles.
This handout was developed by the Association of Reptilian and
Amphibian Veterinarians and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and is intended for informational purposes only; please
seek advice from your physician and your reptile's veterinarian
if questions or problems occur.
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