Salmonella

Salmonella is a bacteria or group of bacteria that can cause illness in humans. The symptoms of Salmonella are usually mild and include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Some infections, though, can be quite serious and severe cases can even lead to death. Young children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are the most likely to have severe infections. Most cases of Salmonella result from eating contaminated food. Raw eggs and undercooked meat and poultry are common sources as are unwashed vegetables. Food can also become contaminated if someone infected with Salmonella handles it without washing his/her hands. Additionally, Salmonella can be passed in the feces of certain pets. Reptiles are quite likely to shed these bacteria in their feces and a growing number of Salmonella infections each year can be traced to pet reptiles. Most, if not all, reptiles carry Salmonella in their gut and occasionally shed them in their feces, yet the bacteria do not usually cause illness in reptiles. It is virtually impossible to eliminate Salmonella from your pet reptile. People can get Salmonella from reptiles by putting things in their mouth that have been in contact with reptile feces. Simply holding a reptile or being near a reptile will not cause a Salmonella infection, the bacteria must enter the body through a break in the skin or be ingested. Knowing that the risk exists and simple, common sense) are the best defense against contracting reptile-associated salmonellosis.