Do Gecko's carry salmonella?

[geckoqueen]

I told my my mom about my Gecko's and she is like don't they carry salmonella?

I never heard of it, just asking if Gecko's really carry salmonella or not? I always wash my hands though if I touch them. Just so I can let my mom know, for she freaks out again. :main_laugh:

 

[geckoqueen]

This is what I found online

When I bought my gecko's no one ever told me they carry Salmonella and I got from the pet store. Good thing I always washed my hands anyway. And I always washed their food dish in the sink..I did not know I was not supposed to do this. I only looked this up after my mom told me about it, this is what I found online.

Salmonella Infections in People:
Salmonella predominantly causes gastroenteritis in humans (nausea, cramps, diarrhea), which is usually not serious in healthy adults. Children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people are susceptible to more serious infections including complications such as meningitis.

Prevention:
As with any risk from a pet (exotic or otherwise) education is the key to prevention. Some important points on prevention of reptile and amphibian associated Salmonellosis:

* All reptile and amphibian owners should be aware of the potential for Salmonella transmission from their pets. It is the responsibility of the seller (e.g. pet store) as well as health care providers and veterinarians to inform owners of reptiles or amphibians of the risks posed from Salmonella, and its prevention.
* Reptiles or amphibians should not be kept in homes with children younger than 5, or with anyone who is immunocompromised for any reason.
* Children under 5 and immunocompromised people should avoid contact (direct or indirect) with reptiles or amphibians.
* Hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water each time a reptile or amphibian (or it's equipment) is handled.
* Reptiles or amphibians should not be allowed free roam of living areas or in the kitchen.
* Reptile and amphibian cages and equipment should not be cleaned in the kitchen. Sinks or tubs used for cleaning equipment or bathing reptiles should be disinfected with a bleach solution afterwards.
* Day care centers, preschools, etc. should not house reptiles or amphibians.

 

[geckoqueen]

If Gecko bites?

One question if my Gecko bites me would I get Salmonella if it had it? What if I let the Gecko on my couch, or something could I get a Salmonella Infections ?..Sorry to be weird about this but after I looked online I just want me and my family to be safe. I just wish I knew Gecko's carried this, cause I bought them from a pet store and no one ever told me about these things. I can say there were a few times I did not wash my hands and I also washed their food dish in the sink and never got sick. So it makes me wonder about what I read online. I do love my gecko's though I am not sure now if I can let them roam the house after reading this.

 

[SleepyDee]

to be honest it boils down to common sense ie washing hands etc and practising good hygiene
Going by gov. stats here in the UK you're actually far more likely to get salmonella from raw/badly cooked meats, eggs and pets such as cats and dogs then you are from any reptile

 

[Khrysty]

here in the UK you're actually far more likely to get salmonella from raw/badly cooked meats, eggs and pets such as cats and dogs then you are from any reptile

here in the States, too. Reptile and amphibians CAN be carriers of salmonella and they CAN pass it on to humans, but it's awfully unlikely. Practicing good hygiene virtually eliminates all likelihood of you ever getting sick..but know that geckos are really unlikely to get you sick even if you DON'T practice good hygiene.

Honestly, the only reason I wash my hands before/after handling my guys is so I don't get THEM sick, not the other way around.

 

[VTHokie]

One question if my Gecko bites me would I get Salmonella if it had it? What if I let the Gecko on my couch, or something could I get a Salmonella Infections ?..Sorry to be weird about this but after I looked online I just want me and my family to be safe. I just wish I knew Gecko's carried this, cause I bought them from a pet store and no one ever told me about these things. I can say there were a few times I did not wash my hands and I also washed their food dish in the sink and never got sick. So it makes me wonder about what I read online. I do love my gecko's though I am not sure now if I can let them roam the house after reading this.

Whoa, let's not get too upset here. As others have said, the risk of getting sick from a gecko is very small. Bites cannot transfer salmonella as far as I am aware. I would say continue to let them on the couch, or wherever else you usually let them. Just make sure to wash your hands after handling, and keep them and their waste away from food surfaces.

 

[Mel&Keith]

Prevention:
As with any risk from a pet (exotic or otherwise) education is the key to prevention. Some important points on prevention of reptile and amphibian associated Salmonellosis:

These types of warnings are usually put out because people let their children pull turtles and frogs out of a pond and lick them or stick their finger in their eyes, etc. It's like all plastic bags coming with warnings not to let babies put them over their heads. It seems unlikely that someone using common sense would let a baby play with a bag but those warnings are put out for the minority who lack common sense. They should have made a list more like this -

- Do not let children play with wild animals
- Use proper husbandry when keeping any animal as a pet
- Do not eat at restaurants
- Sanitize your kitchen after preparing raw meat

If people followed those basic tips they'd be far less likely to contract Salmonella! :main_rolleyes:

 

[BGalloway]

Quoting my Microbiology textbook: "Salmonella is a common inhabitant of human and animal intestines, especially cattle and poultry. ...Pet reptiles and birds also carry Salmonella."

The thing about this is that the salmonella is native to the gut and only causes infection if it somehow gets outside the gut to a part of the body it doesn't belong, if the particular strain of salmonella is carrying certain virulence factors, or if the immune sytem is weakened. Also just because salmonella is native to the gut it doesn't mean it is activly being shed in the feces.

The short story is: Wash your hands and don't worry so much unless you are high risk for getting salmonella.

 

[snowgyre]

Yvette's got the right of it. Salmonella and E. coli are often sensationalized in the media as contaminating everything. Chances are you're being exposed to both germs daily, and only extreme concentrations will actually make you sick. In most cases, these bacteria like moist environments, so there is a much greater risk when dealing with aquatic species such as turtles.

Leopard geckos actually have a fairly 'clean' mouth. Bacteria grows in saliva mainly because spaces between teeth are small enough to harbor those bacteria. A gecko's teeth are very far apart from one another, and their mouths are relatively dry, so the chance of infection is very small. And, the chance that you'll get salmonella from a bite or just handling your gecko is also very, very small. I've handled (and gotten bitten by) a lot of captive and wild reptiles and never once got sick. I'm not saying you shouldn't practice good hygiene, but going hypochondriac on your gecko is probably a little over the top.

 

[geckoqueen]

I don't worry but my mom does. I'll show her these messages. i mean I worry a little yes
but after reading this I don't. As I have gotten bitten myself, washed their things in the sink and in the wash, the carpet and never got sick. Though I know my Gecko's are sick and until I get them to the Vet I am going to be careful..They are not eating at all and something is wrong. Once I know from a vet what is going on then yea I don't worry about it. I have not see them eat for days. I keep cleaning dead, or alive worms out of the tank.
Something needs to be done and quick. I am worried about the both of them. Both Gecko's have not ate for along time. I have the food but they are not eating any of it.

 

[Jenn]

just to clear a few things up. My son was hospitalized for a week with salmonella he got from some pet turtles. I made him wash with soap after every handeling but he still got it. I was told that washing alone will not kill it you must use sanitizer like purell to kill it. they said in order for me to kill it by washing I would have had to scrub his hands in extremely hot water for over 15 minutes so needless to say we have purell next to every tank. Hayden was only 3 when he got sick and it leaked into his blood so he was very very sick and could have died. Always use hand sanitizer as well.

 

[Khrysty]

just to clear a few things up. My son was hospitalized for a week with salmonella he got from some pet turtles. I made him wash with soap after every handeling but he still got it. I was told that washing alone will not kill it you must use sanitizer like purell to kill it. they said in order for me to kill it by washing I would have had to scrub his hands in extremely hot water for over 15 minutes so needless to say we have purell next to every tank. Hayden was only 3 when he got sick and it leaked into his blood so he was very very sick and could have died. Always use hand sanitizer as well.

The point we were trying to make was that the risk of contracting salmonella from reptiles is very low, not that it's impossible. And young children are not supposed to handle reptiles, at all, to reduce that risk.

I am sorry about your son, though. I'm glad he's okay, now. That must have been quite a scare.