Can you catch salmonella from reptiles?

Summary

Can you catch salmonella from reptiles? It has long been claimed that all reptiles carry salmonella, but evidence does not support this assumption. Veterinary and pathology laboratory testing shows that salmonella is not common in healthy reptiles.

In this video, reptile keepers attending a UK reptile show were asked about their experiences, and none reported catching salmonella from reptiles. While transmission is possible and good hygiene is always recommended, the evidence suggests the risk of catching salmonella from a companion reptile is very low.

Find out more salmonella in our article.

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Transcript

Have you ever caught salmonella from your reptiles?

No.

Not once.

No, I haven't. It's amazing isn't? It's Magic.

I got it.

Say that again you got salmonella?

It's from the local Kebab shop.

So every time I've been feeding him or got him out and put him back in I always go and wash my hands before I do anything else.

A quick wash of the hands making sure, we did enough of it during COVID so we know how to do it now. I don't know of anyone in the reptile hobby, personally, that has ever caught it.

Have you ever caught salmonella from your reptiles?

No I haven't, no.

That is a negative, I have never ever.

Never, ever.

No I haven't.

No.

You must be superhuman then.

Or just have common sense.

It's easy to avoid I wash my hands. Yeah, it really simple before sticking your hands in your mouth. Wash your hands. Break the oral fecal root. Oral root is anything you take into your mouth. The fecal part of that is poo. Don't eat poo.

I'm 11 and I do know that.