Salmonella

[goReptiles]

I was asked a few days ago whether or not leopard geckos can get salmonella. I didn't know, so I told her so...

So, I'm curious, can they?

 

[curiousKathy]

I was asked a few days ago whether or not leopard geckos can get salmonella. I didn't know, so I told her so...

So, I'm curious, can they?

Yes they can...any animal (and human) can get salmonella...in fact there are about 2500 different types of salmonella. Not all are harmful to humans, though. Best thing to do is wash your hands BEFORE and AFTER handling ANYTHING that comes in contact with your reptile or it's feces. One of our leos had/has an untypable strain of salmonella... we just are VERY careful we wash and don't touch our face.

curiousKathy

 

[Gecko Ranch]

Reptiles are highly likely to carry salmonella bacteria, therefore, the safe approach is to assume they all have it. Salmonella is a zoonoses, a disease transmittable from animals to humans. Here's some links to read up on the subject:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/animals/reptiles.htm

http://www.arav.org/SalmonellaOwner.htm - great for a handout!

I cover the subject in my book "Geckos." It is not a pleasant subject, however, it needs to be well understood before deciding to keep reptiles.

From what I have learned from consulting with non-domestic veterinarians keeping your geckos healthy will decrease the salmonella load and as a consequence keep your geckos more healthy and then you in the long run!

There are certain populations of humans, five years of age and unders, elderly, unhealthy and immuno-system compromised folks who should not be around reptiles at all due to salmonella concerns. As for the rest of us healthy folks, common sense practices and proper hand-washing is simple to do to avoid contaminations.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

My 2 year old and 5 year old never touch the inside of the tank but they are always watching the gecko and my son touches the outside, gently. What are the concerns there? I have heard good and bad about products on the market. Wipeout 1 seems to have the best response as far as I have seen. I use Soap and hand sanitizer after I go in the tank, is that enough?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Forgot to add that the screen top is locked on with clips.

 

[StinaKSU]

So far as I am aware reptiles can carry 1 strain of salmonella that is transmittable to people. Cats on the other hand can carry 3. Any animals can carry things transmittable to humans...you just have to be sanitary. With salmonella specifically the transmission is fecal-oral...so to be infected by salmonella you HAVE to come into contact with fecal material....now...that fecal material can be on the animals themselves...but with a clean environment the odds of it are low. That's one reason why its so important to keep your reptiles cages clean.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Agreed. The link that Julie posted from the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) is an easy to comprehend guideline for reptile keepers.

Also, for those who keep crickets as feeders... make sure if you use clean/new egg cartons for their housing, and not ones with any broken egg material on them. Raw eggs can have large loads of salmonella, and if the feeders eat it they can build up loads of the bacteria that can be passed on to your herps.

 

[curiousKathy]

My 2 year old and 5 year old never touch the inside of the tank but they are always watching the gecko and my son touches the outside, gently. What are the concerns there? I have heard good and bad about products on the market. Wipeout 1 seems to have the best response as far as I have seen. I use Soap and hand sanitizer after I go in the tank, is that enough?

If it were me, I would have your kids wash just like you even if they are not in the tank or touching the reptiles. It's a great habit for them to start learning; plus you never know when there might be contamination on the outside of the tank. I would start teaching them to keep their hands away from their faces now as well. Watching you and how you keep clean and not touch your face will set an example for them. I wash like a surgeon. You want to work up a rich lather (with soap, antibacterial would be fine) and rinse thoroughly. I also use the antibacterial waterless soaps, but these have alcohol and can sting if there are any open cuts or scratches on your skin (which is a good thing because it's getting in there and doing it's job, but it would make a child uncomfortable).

Hope this helps,

curiousKathy