Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend of mine has a grown son who has a ball python and has been having grand maul seizures. But doctors can't seem to find out why. But recently it seems like when he gets his snake out or cleans the cage, a couple of days later he has a seizure. Is this a coincidence or is there something about the snake or its habitat? What about salmonella? Could this be a factor? Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Allison Maynard

First off i am not a doctor....so all the info i am supplying is my opinion and knowledge.....

I have never in my time working with animals heard of anyone having seizures related to snakes. It seems odd that he gets them after handling his animals........

If he had salmonella he would have other symptoms....i.e. dehydration/diherrea/vomiting and just a general crappy feeling.........

I would suspect that there is something deeper going on..........has he been checked by neurologists ( im sure he has...but it cant hurt to ask.......) ITs possible that he has something going on with his brain....other than the seizure issue.......(tumor growth??) Has he had any brain injury/trauma in the past that could have affected him now? What else is goin on in his daily routine that could cause it? (drug use? not sure of his age....sorry...)

There is a lot to look at..........but i dont think the snake has much if anything to do with it.........

I have been around them for a long time......especially working in a summer camp & animal theme park with kids who had medical condiotions.........some of which also had seizures......and handling snakes & crocodilians never affected any of them in any way......again.......these were my observations.....

I hope you figure out the problem..........

Send them my best regards.........and tell him to get well soon!

Jared Horenstein
Royal Python Reptiles

Anything can be an allergen, including snake waste, and could be a trigger. He could get a simple allergen screen and include ball python feces or a shed skin to see if any evidence of allergy or other adverse reactions could be seen. Not sure why this would cause seizures? That's pretty serious.
Justin

Grand maul seizures won't be caused by the snake at all. If the snake was triggering it while being held, it would happen then and there, not three days later (or two days later).

Seizures are caused by several things, epilepsy, high fevor, tumers, trama to the brain, brain swelling or even strokes. Chemical imbalances in the brain can also cause seizures. This is something a neurologist should look into.

To be on the safe side, fecal samples from the snake can be tested for any known pathogens that could cause illness in humans. the only ones I have ever heard of only cause flu like symtoms, not seizures.
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PHLdyPayne