Background Information
Salmonellosis is by no means a new disease. Its potential to cause disease has been recognized since 1946.
Salmonella is a gram-negative, flagellated rod. In addition, it is a facultative anaerobe.
Salmonella is a very stable organism. It is capable of remaining virulent for several months to years, depending on the medium in which it is living.
Length of Virulence
- Tap water: 89 days
- Pond water: 115 days
- Pasture soil: 120 days
- Garden soil: 280 days
- Avian feces: 28 months
- Bovine feces: 30 months
There are about 2,000 serotypes of Salmonella, 200 of which have been isolated from reptiles.
Of the 200 types seen in reptiles, only a few have been known to be involved in reptile zoonosis.
Transmission
Transmission of Salmonella is through the fecal-oral route for the most part.
In the case of turtles, eggs laid in contaminated soil may be infected by the passage of the organism through the shell.
Another point of note is that infection does not require direct contact with infected reptiles or their fecal material.
To become infected, contact with individuals who have had contact with infected reptiles or with infected reptile cage materials may be all that is needed.
Clinical Signs
You may be wondering, “How do I know if my pet reptile has Salmonella?”
Unfortunately, infected reptiles usually show no signs of disease.
Occasionally, they may become anorexic, lethargic, have diarrhea, or suddenly die.
Fecal testing is often unrewarding. Several samples may have to be taken over several months to produce a positive result.
The problem is that negative results cannot be regarded as truly negative because the organism can undergo periods of latency.
For this reason, it is almost impossible to say with 100% certainty that an animal is free of Salmonella.
In contrast to reptiles infected with Salmonella, humans more often show very severe signs of infection.
Common signs often exhibited by humans include:
- Gastroenteritis
- Profuse diarrhea
- Bloody diarrhea in some cases
- Cramps
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Dehydration
- Dermatitis
- Red rash
- Septicemia
In some cases, it may lead to more severe diseases such as:
- Osteomyelitis
- Encephalitis
- Meningitis
Death is always a potential outcome.
Individuals diagnosed with Salmonella must be reported to the Public Health Department, and carriers must be registered with the Public Health Department even after hospital discharge.
Individuals at Greater Risk
Individuals who are at greater risk of infection include:
- Children under age 5
- Individuals with HIV/AIDS or other immunodeficiency disorders
- Transplant patients on anti-rejection therapy
- Individuals taking drugs that suppress or alter the immune system
- Individuals receiving radiation therapy
- Pregnant women
- Elderly individuals with poor nutritional status
Treatment
Treatment of reptiles infected with Salmonella is not recommended because, in most cases, the animal simply stops shedding the organism until antibiotics are stopped.
Similarly, treatment of Salmonella in humans is not warranted unless it becomes life-threatening.
The reason for this is that treatment may lead to individuals becoming carriers.
Also, misuse of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of Salmonella in both humans and reptiles.
Because treatment is not recommended in all cases and is not always successful, prevention of salmonellosis has been the main area of focus.
Prevention
Prevention of Salmonella is relatively easy and usually requires little time commitment.
The first and most important thing to do is wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water after handling reptiles or their cage materials.
Avoid washing cage materials or placing reptiles in areas where food is prepared or eaten.
Do not allow young children to handle reptiles unsupervised, and teach them to wash their hands after handling reptiles.
Keep reptile cages, enclosures, and accessories clean.
Try to avoid splashing water when cleaning, or wear eye and face protection if splashing is unavoidable.
Individuals in high-risk categories should avoid contact with reptiles.
Overall, the main point in preventing Salmonella is to follow good hygiene practices.
Also, keep in mind that reptiles are not the only source of Salmonella.
Other animals carry it, including:
- Dogs
- Cows
- Horses
- Chickens
Raw chicken and other uncooked meats present a greater risk than reptiles.
Proper hygiene should therefore be followed when handling these animals and food products, as well as when handling reptiles.
