Myth buster:

Reptile salmonella

Of course, it is possible to catch salmonella from your pet reptiles, or indeed from many other commonly kept pets. But how significant is the risk, and what can keepers do to manage and prevent infection?

by Courtney Comer

It seems that almost everyone knows it’s possible to catch salmonella from reptiles, but there’s an increasing body of evidence to indicate that the risk is low and easy to prevent. By far the most common sources of salmonella poisoning is the food in your fridge. Raw and undercooked meat is one of the easiest ways for people to contract food-borne illnesses such as E. coli and salmonella, so it might not come as a surprise, that washing raw meat in the sink is a common cause of contamination and illness.

Nevertheless, it’s still important that keepers negate the risk of contracting salmonella from their animals, and the best way to do this is through education about hygiene and husbandry. Here’s a list of frequently asked questions to point you in the right direction.

Can reptiles carry salmonella?

Yes, the bacteria can be found in their digestive tracts and can subsequently be shed in their faeces. However, few of the captive-bred reptiles kept today test positive for salmonella.

Do any other pet animals carry salmonella?

Yes, salmonella is also found in dogs, cats, birds, rodents, tropical fish, goats, horses, ferrets, and many other animals! It’s important to remember that they can also spread salmonella to other animals and people, even if they do not show symptoms of salmonellosis infection themselves.

How many salmonella cases occur in the United States each year?

It’s estimated around 1.4 million cases of salmonellosis occur annually in the US, with most being the result of undercooked or contaminated meat, eggs and dairy products. Only about three percent of salmonella cases are related to exposure from reptiles.

How will I know if I have caught salmonella?

You may notice the following symptoms:

abdominal cramps
chills
headache
nausea
diarrhoea
vomiting

Symptoms usually begin anywhere between six hours to six days after infection, and they can last four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment but consulting a doctor is always recommended. Taking antibiotics while infected with salmonella isn’t recommended as the bacteria can grow resistant to treatment.

Who is most at risk?

Although salmonella isn’t a severely dangerous disease for most people, about 26,000 hospitalizations and 420 deaths from salmonella occur each year in the United States. Those most at risk of hospitalization are:

children under the age of five
adults over the age of 65
pregnant women
people with a weakened immune system or illness such as diabetes, AIDS/HIV, organ transplant recipients, or those undergoing chemotherapy.

How do you catch salmonella from a reptile?

Bacteria from the reptile’s digestive tract must find its way into the human digestive tract through the ‘faecal-oral route’. This occurs when reptile faeces, or something contaminated with salmonella bacteria found in reptile faeces, enters a person’s mouth. This could be through contaminated hands, gloves, substrate, water, husbandry equipment or any other item that has come into contact with reptile faeces. Even a reptile’s skin can be contaminated, so kissing reptiles isn’t a good idea.

You can’t get salmonella just by holding or touching a reptile, but you can spread the germs from your reptile’s skin by putting your hands into your mouth.

Can we get rid of my reptile’s salmonella?

Possibly, but most consider it difficult, impractical and unnecessary to do so – not to mention expensive to conclusively test for.

How can I avoid getting salmonella?

Thankfully it’s pretty easy to avoid contracting salmonella from your reptile. Simply follow these easy steps:

Wash your hands

After handling any animal or their equipment, remember to immediately wash your hands with warm, soapy water. Wash for at least 20 seconds before touching anything else – especially your face.
Prevent cross contamination

Remember to never eat, cook, or serve food after handling reptiles, and be similarly careful with items that have come into contact with your reptiles, their food, supplies, or water. Always wash your hands and disinfect the area.
Supervise pets and children

Be especially vigilant with children under the age of five as their immune systems are more susceptible to disease. Keep reptiles away from their toys, bottles, clothes, and blankets as children will most likely put these in their mouths. Older children can be taught how to properly handle live animals and then to wash their hands with adult supervision.
Clean all contaminated surfaces

If a reptile or its belongings have been on a surface, always clean that area with disinfectant to eliminate salmonella germs. Common places where bacteria may linger are areas where reptiles, their food, or supplies have been washed such as sinks or bathtubs.
Don’t kiss your reptiles

This might be difficult for those who love showing affection to their pets, but it isn’t a good idea to let reptiles near your mouth. Remember, salmonella must be ingested orally to enter your body and affect your digestive tract.

A vet’s perspective

James Sheridan DVM MRCVS

I’m often asked about salmonella by reptile pet owners and whether they should be worried about it. Thankfully, they are usually reassured by the facts – especially when presented in perspective.

It’s actually relatively unusual to discover salmonella in reptile faecal tests. And even if the faeces does test positive for salmonella, it won’t usually cause symptoms or sickness in the animal.

Believe it or not, almost all animals can carry zoonotic diseases, and it’s not just salmonella we should be cautious about. For example, dogs and cats carry zoonotic diseases such as E. Coli, giardia, toxoplasmosis, roundworm, tapeworm, fleas, ticks mange and ringworm. That’s why it’s Important to practice good hygiene no matter what species of pet you keep.

All things considered, while it is possible to contract salmonella from reptiles, the risk is minimal – especially when proper hygiene practices are followed.

Regardless of whether your reptile has tested positive for salmonella or not, you should wash your hands after handling or maintaining your animal, keep their enclosure clean, and keep anything your reptile touches away from food preparation areas. It’s important to understand the risk and how to minimise it. After all, salmonella is no joke.

Tiny turtle trouble

Turtles less than four inches long are banned from sale in the USA, but this isn’t because these tiny turtles carry more salmonella bacteria. Indeed turtles both small and large will often carry salmonella because aquatic turtles defecate in the same water they swim in.

The reason the American Centre for Disease Control (CDC) decided turtles less than four inches represent a high risk of salmonella transmission to humans, is because baby turtles might appear to be attractive pets and their small size makes it easier for young children to put in their mouths. Each year, the ban prevents an estimated 100,000 cases of salmonella infection among American children.

Despite the ban, these tiny turtles are still often sold illegally in stores, gift shops, flea markets, and roadside stands. This is why many believe that banning turtles isn’t the solution to the problem, as people can still purchase tiny turtles regardless of federal laws. Instead, the key to preventing salmonella outbreaks is public education and understanding a few simple hygiene steps which reduce the risk to almost zero.