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In the past couple of years the topic of salmonella and animals has been brought into the spotlight. There have been documented cases of individuals contracting the disease through farm animals or even a family pet.
What is salmonella? Salmonella is a bacterium that is present in the bodies of farm animals. These animals do not appear ill and do not suffer because of it. The most common way to contract the bacteria is by eating raw or undercooked meat. Recently the spread of salmonella has been linked to reptiles.
Several reptiles, including those kept as pets(such as iguanas and turtles), are common carriers of salmonella. There is evidence that suggests that it may be more common in imported animals than those who are domestically bred. Iguanas seem to be one of the more common reptiles from which people contract the disease. This is in part due to the iguana’s popularity in the pet industry. Despite the iguana’s role in transmitting the disease, the iguana rarely shows any signs that it carries the bacteria. Humans that live with iguanas can contract the disease by touching the animals directly, by sustaining scratches or bites from the animal, or by cleaning the animal’s enclosure and coming in direct contact with the animal’s feces. Another source of transmission is touching household surfaces in which the iguana has come into contact. One of the most common sites of transmission is the bathtub. Many iguana owners place the lizard in the bathtub for indoor swimming. If the iguana is a salmonella carrier and the owner decides to take a bath after the iguana has been swimming, the owner can contract salmonella.
What are the symptoms of salmonella? The main symptom is diarrhea. Abdominal cramps, vomiting, fever, and chills often are in accompaniment. There can be blood in the stool. If the diarrhea continues, medical attention should be sought. If the salmonella bacterium spreads from the digestive tract to the bloodstream, it can settle in the liver, heart, or even the joints. In these organs it can cause inflammation or abscess. In a severe attack, the excessive loss of body fluids resulting from severe bouts of diarrhea can cause death. Treatment for the disease usually includes antibiotics.
Who is at risk? Everyone is at risk, but children, the elderly and the chronically ill are targeted most commonly, due to their low resistance to infection. Prevention of the disease is the key. If you have a reptile, it is extremely important to take the necessary precautions. Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap after each and every time handling the reptile. If the reptile is on any household surfaces, sanitize them immediately after the reptile is back in the enclosure. You should never let young children clean the enclosure. Young children are famous for putting their fingers in their mouth, thus contracting the bacteria. In fact this has happened so often that many states have passed legislature forbidding the sale of any turtle whose shell is smaller than four inches, because children have been known to put the turtles in their mouths. It is also a good idea to disinfect the animal’s cage, including branches, basking rocks, and food dishes, as often as possible. If you are bitten or scratched by the animals you should clean the wound thoroughly and treat with an antibiotic ointment. If you let the lizard swim in the bathtub, sanitize it immediately after the swim and definitely before taking a bath. Make sure that you store food in places where the iguana or the iguana’s feces can’t come in contact with it. One common mistake that many people make is letting
their iguana have free roam of the house. Unsupervised freedom can spell trouble for the iguana and also increase the chances of salmonella transmission.
It is often recommended that you should avoid purchasing a reptile if you have a child under the age of two. Children are prime candidates for infection. You do not need to live in constant fear of salmonella if you share your home with a reptile. prevention, caution, and common sense are the tools you will need to combat the bacteria.
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