Even healthy pets can carry organisms that will make humans very ill. A recent article in the Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report states that people who have reptiles and/or amphibians as pets are at higher risk of getting a disease called Salmonellosis. Pet reptiles and amphibians are responsible for an estimated 93,000 cases of Salmonellosis in the United States annually according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Families and pet store owners are often unaware of the risks of owning these pets. Salmonellosis is caused by Salmonella bacteria. There are many different types (genera, serotypes) of Salmonella that cause Salmonellosis. Reptiles and amphibians carry these bacteria in their intestines and are perfectly healthy.
Salmonellosis causes people to have diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever that will last 4-7 days. Most people will get over this infection on their own. However, young children (less that 5 years of age) and immunocompromised adults (chemotherapy patients, AIDS patients, diabetics, elderly) may have more severe complications following infection with Salmonella. In severe infections patients can become dehydrated and require hospitalization. These bacteria can also get in the blood stream (sepsis) and in the membranes that surround the brain (meningitis).
Here is one case report taken from the Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report.
Arizona. During October 1996, a 3-week-old boy was admitted to
a hospital emergency department with fever (103.6oF [40o
C]), vomiting, and bloody diarrhea of 15 days' duration. Stool and
blood cultures yielded Salmonella serotype IV 44:z4,z23-,
an extremely rare serotype. The infant was hospitalized for 10 days and
treated with intravenous fluids and amoxicillin. To
determine the cause of the infant's illness, a stool specimen was obtained
from the family's pet iguana, which also yielded
Salmonella IV 44:z4,z23-. In an attempt to prevent
reinfection, local health officials informed the parents of the importance
of the
infant avoiding direct and indirect contact with the reptile, and the
iguana was moved to a relative's home. One month later, the
infant spent 2 days in the relative's home where the iguana was housed;
48 hours after this visit, the infant was again treated at
an emergency department for fever and diarrhea. A stool culture again
yielded Salmonella IV 44:z4,z23-.
If you own a reptile or amphibian pet the following recommendations from the CDC may lower you and your families chances of getting Salmonellosis.
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