Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sorry for the off topic post. Don't know where else to go that isn't completely anti-reptile.

The pediatrition just told my wife we should get rid of all the reptiles in the house due to salmonella. He said that no matter how careful we were that transmission was possible. He said that infants are especially at risk.

The best reptile vet in town said that they can't be 100% sure about the presence of samonella. False positives and negatives are too easy.

Any info/experience would be greatly appreciated. I need to make an informed UNBIASED decision. I don't want to throw away 10 years of work and dreams, but he comes first. My wife says its my decision...and I want it to be the right one.

I don't know if it makes a difference, but all my reptiles have been in my care for 2 or more years. None have shown symptoms of salmonella, but I am not sure that they can't be carriers.

Travis

Travis,
I printed this stuff out back in Nov. 2001 because I was curious.(www.reptileallsorts.com/salmonella.html)
The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) and the Communicable Disease Surveillance Center (CDSC)
You might be able to Google these two agencies to find out more info.
1)In 1999 over 17,250 cases of human Salmonellosis were reported, and of these only SEVEN were confirmed as being contracted from a reptile source. A similar low number of reptile associated cases were reported the previous year.
2) In 1997 there were far more cases of confirmed zoonotic disease from domestic animals and their food by-products than from reptile sources
Salmonellosis is an intestinal disease that is contracted through the ingestion of fecal (or fecal contaminated) material. It's essential to stress the importance of basis hygiene to avoid disease from ANY animal, however, there doesn't appear to be any inherently greater risks associated with the keeping of reptiles than other pets.
To prevent problems we recommend
A) Simple hand washing using soap and water after handling or cleaning out enclosures
B) Keeping reptiles, their furnishings and associated equipment well away from human food preparation areas. Those persons at particularly high risk such as young children, the elderly and the immunocompromised should consider taking additional precautions and consider carefully the benefits versus the risks of keeping ANY animal.
We consider the benefits of properly keeping reptiles far outweigh the potential risks involved. With the current information it appears that you are 2500 times more likely to contract samonella from food than from reptiles.
Anyways that is some of the info in that report, hope it helps with your decision.
Mike Derks

My personal opinion...If he's not touching it, I wouldn't worry too much at all. Of course your pediatrician is going to make a huff about it...it's his job to act/be concerned with children's safety.

I worked at a relatively prestigious aquarium where on a daily basis, LITERALLY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN would come and pet baby alligators (which also can/do carry salmonella). Afterwards a small squirt of anti-bacterial stuff was put in the person/child's hand to be rubbed in. So maybe that (rubbing some of it into your child's hands if he's anywhere near where the reptile has been) could be used as a precaution if you're really that worried.

Don't let hysteria overtake you and your family.

- Damian

Posted this again, because some reason it wasn't showing up on the forum main page. I apologize if it shows up twice.

My personal opinion...If he's not touching it, I wouldn't worry too much at all. Of course your pediatrician is going to make a huff about it...it's his job to act/be concerned with children's safety.

I worked at a relatively prestigious aquarium where on a daily basis, LITERALLY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN would come and pet baby alligators (which also can/do carry salmonella). Afterwards a small squirt of anti-bacterial stuff was put in the person/child's hand to be rubbed in. So maybe that (rubbing some of it into your child's hands if he's anywhere near where the reptile has been) could be used as a precaution if you're really that worried.

Don't let hysteria overtake you and your family.

- Damian

worst experience of my life. 3.5 days in the hospital with bloody diahrea.... (sorry for the details.) Bottom line, you do not want it, and especially do not want an inphant to get it.

However, when I was in the hospital, once we determined what it was. I asked the doctor if it could have been from my snakes. His honest answer was he didn't know. a week later I returned for a follow-up check up. He researched it, and told me snakes do not carry it. It's more the amphibians or more aquatic reptiles such as turtles.

Please, do not underestimate Salmonella. I would still take every precaution, but you do not need to go crazy. If the baby wants to touch the snake, go ahead. Just make sure he/she does not put his hands in his mouth without a proper bath/washing.

Let the hobby be handed on!

For what it's worth, I'm inclined to agree with the majority here. LOL, if you can call three or four people a majority. Point being don't be fanatical, just use common sense. Wash up after handling your reptiles, and when the child is old enough to partake in the hobby be sure he/she does too. I remember growing up handling quantities of snakes throughout any given summertime and NOT washing up afterwards, sometimes even at meal time for that matter. NOT smart and certainly not safe, but I came away unscathed. Been playing with reptiles of one sort or another for 45 of my 55 years and THEY have never been the cause of any illness I have had. Doesn't mean it can't happen. Just be sensible about it.

Quig

5 days in the hospital, 105 fever, naked, packed in ice cubes. Of course, they probably have better ways to bring fever down now, but back then the cure was worse than the disease...At the tiem I would have preferred death to the treatment...of course after the fact, I was happy to be alive.
I do know that I received salmonella from a babysitter's pet turtle. I know it is prevelant in aquatic critters and some birds. I would think, on average snakes would be free of it, except in the cases of eating raw fish, birds, or other aquatic critters. If they have injested animals that carry the virus, I would error on the side of caution and think they could carry it too; but that is just my opinion.
As was said, proper hygiene, both ways (washing hands before and after), should prevent any possible cross-contamination in either direction.
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Delusions of Grandeur feed the EGO...

When I was a kid, I had very little supervision and spent most of my time at the various swamps in my erea catching different critters, but mostly Garter, Bull, Hognose, and Red Belly snakes. Have you ever grabbed a wild Garter snake? They musk! I never washed! I brought sandwiches with for lunch and would eat them with stinky snake hands. I was sick less than most kids I knew.

I wash my hands before and after I work with or handle my reptiles. I tell my kids to as well, but they don't always listen. I have three kids.. 17, 15, and 11. I've had reptiles all of their lives, and never once have any of us had salmonella.

I know how it is when you're a new parent. You want to be absolutely certain that nothing can/will happen to your child. I think it's a biological mechanism built in to insure survival.
With a little care there is NO way your baby is going to get Salmonella. Without any care the chances are extremely low..
You CAN enjoy snakes and children in the same household.
Kids go through a phase when their young where they will put anything they find in their mouths. It's good keep an eye on that, but most won't be handling snakes at that age!

jason
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sounddjinn@yahoo.com

Things always get cloudy just before transformation.

Until they are 5, no reptile handling at all. Their immune system is (I'm told) not fully developed until then. I think I read that in "What to expect when you're expecting." After 5, they can handle them but they have to wash their hands BEFORE (protecting the animal) and AFTER. If they don't want to wash their hands after, I will allow them to use the hand sanitizer gel stuff, but I'd rather they wash. I have a 22 month old daughter and a nine year old boy (who has his own bull snake in his room.)

I have a room in my home just for my snakes. I now use non-latex gloves whenever cleaning/handling snakes. Plus, I use hooks. Now that I think about it, I rarely handle most of my snakes anymore except when showing them off (mostly b/c my collection has grown larger).

I wash my hands thoroughly after I leave the room. I simply don't let my baby near the snakes OR any supplies. She has her whole life to enjoy the hobby...no sense in exposing her to something that her undeveloped immune system cannot handle. I keep my snakes clean and I doubt that they have anything but I guess you never know. Best thing to do is to simply play it safe. I would NOT give up your hobby but I would create a quarantine zone or area where you can keep all of your supplies, even pens/pencils. Go to Sams Club and get a large quantity of nonlatex medical gloves (they have different sizes).

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Sincerely, Jason
www.NortheastSnakes.com
NortheastSnakes@aol.com