Can I infect my leos?

[Lithuin]

Alright, so I've been doing a lot of research and have gotten a 'yes' and 'no' to geckos giving humans parasites such as pinworms, hookworms, etc.

But my BIG question is this- Can *I* give my leos worms?

I'm asking because my son's playmate was just diagnosed with a severe case of pinworms. I don't have an appointment for my son til Monday, but they say it's highly contagious.

My leos are acting fine, I just didn't know if this was even a possibility. Thanks in advance!

PS- I plan on calling a Herp Monday anyway, but it'd be great if I could set my mind at ease or be prepared for a vet visit. I'd hate that, as they just had fecals in Dec. Of course I'm having a baby Tuesday and I don't want this all lingering around.

 

[Lithuin]

Okay, I found my answer via a friend who is a nurse for the local Health Department (so she's dealt with this before). Just in case anyone else is interested, the answer is a big 'No'.

Humans carry the Enterobius vermicularis species of pinworm, which cannot be given any other species, and the type reptiles carry cannot infect humans. Apparently most species have their own type of parasite, including horses, rabbits, and more.... Which I didn't know.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Unless you kiss your gecko, it's highly unlikely you can give your geckos parasites. Most parasites are transmitted via oral/fecal contact. There are some parasites that can be transmitted to humans, known as 'zoonoses', so it's important to sanitize your hands after handling any reptile.