Reptiles and Salmonella –
The Facts
Over the past few years there has been an upsurge of interest in the press with regard
to reptile associated diseases, particularly Salmonella. Extremist animal
welfare and pressure groups claim reptiles are extremely dangerous to human
health due to the threat of disease. But are we putting ourselves in danger by
keeping reptiles or have pressure groups exaggerated the point to scare the
public into banning the hobby?
The following article is by Dr. Stephen J Divers, BSc (Hons), B Vet Med, Cert. Zoo.
Med., C Biol, MIBiol, MRCVS, RCVS Certificate in Zoological Medicine and
is currently the president of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians,
in this article he
outlines the facts.
Various
press releases have appeared in the media by various, ill informed organisations
and the public is being bombarded with misinformation over the potential risk of
Salmonella. The following information may therefore be of interest. The Public
Health Laboratory (PHLS) and the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC)
provided the following information for
England and Wales.
In 1999, over 17,250 cases of human Salmonellosis were reported and of these
only seven were confirmed as contracted from reptiles. A similarly low number
was reported the previous year. In 1997, the latest year with complete figures,
there were far more cases of confirmed disease from domestic animals than from
reptiles.
In addition, a scientific paper was presented at a veterinary conference in June
’00, which stated that the major Salmonella stereotypes causing human disease
are S.enteritidis and S.typhimurium and information from the PHLS and CDSC
confirmed that of the 17,250 plus cases in England and Wales in 1999, 75% were due to
these isolates alone.
In my own small study, over 46 different Salmonella were isolated from reptiles
but S.enteritidis or S.typhimurium were never recovered. It is worth mentioning
that all dogs can excrete Toxecara canis worms eggs that cause many children to
go blind every year, all cats can excrete Toxoplasma gendii cysts that cause
many women to abort pregnancies every year and all parrots can excrete Chlamydia
that causes fatal pneumonia in people.
Did you
know that there are probably more dogs and cats excreting Salmonella in the UK
than Reptiles?
The potential to catch disease from reptiles also exists with dogs, cats,
parrots and even hamsters! In fact on the topic of dogs and cats, did you know
that there are probably more dogs and cats excreting Salmonella in the UK than
Reptiles? While all Salmonellae should be considered potentially dangerous, the
fact remains S.enteritidis and S.typhimurium are rare in reptiles and reptile-
associated Salmonellosis is also, on published accounts, currently rare. It is
also possible that where reptiles do possess S.enteritidis and S.typhimurium,
such infections are likely to be acquired through contact with humans or
domestic animals.
Salmonella is an intestinal disease contracted through the ingestion of faecal
(or faecal contaminated) material. It is essential to stress the importance of
basic hygiene to avoid disease from any animal. We recommend simple hand washing
using soap and water after handling or cleaning out and keeping reptiles and any
associated equipment well away from food preparation areas. Looking at current
information it appears that you are 2,500 times more likely to contract
Salmonella from food than from Reptiles.
Looking at current information it appears that you are 2,500 times more likely
to contract Salmonella from food than from Reptiles.
