There are an estimated 3% of households in the United States that have pet reptiles. They are once again becoming a popular pet.
Salmonella is by far the most common and important disease transmitted by reptiles, in particular, turtles and iguanas. It is estimated that approximately 75,000 reptile-transmitted human infections in the U.S. annually.
There is a significant risk of having these types of pets, especially around young children. They are at a much greater risk of infection than adults for two reasons; they are at much closer contact with the turtle, and their handwashing habits frequently leave a lot to be desired.
Pet turtles have been recognized for decades as a major source of human salmonella infection. Turtles are usually healthy carriers of salmonella which shed the organism on an irregular basis in their feces.
There is widespread contamination of salmonella in turtle breeding and nesting areas. They get the bacterium either in the egg or after hatching.
There have been attempts to control salmonella by turtle farmers by using antibiotics; however the outcome has been unsuccessful and produced even more dangerous antibiotic-resistant strains.
Treatment of turtles is not recommended. With knowledge of possible health hazards andproper sanitation are usually all that required in preventing human infection.
In 1975, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the commercial sales of turtles of less than 4 inches in this country. A 77% decrease in turtle-associated salmonella infections were noted after the ban.
More than 90% of reptiles are asymptomatic carriers of Salmonella. This is related to the hatchlings eating the feces of infected reptiles which is usual behavior for iguanas and other lizards.
Those at greatest risk of serious infection are young children, the elderly, people immunocompromised or immunosuppressed either because of disease (AIDS) or due to chemotherapy , liver disease or pregnant.
What can be done to prevent infection?
1. Don't keep a turtle or other reptile particularly if someone in the household is in a high risk group.
2. Wash hands thoroughly immediately after handling these pets.
3. Disinfect all areas the reptile comes into contact with.
4. Keep the pet away from the kitchen or other areas where food might be prepared or eaten.
Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
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