Hookworm Question

Okay I need some help, over on the BOI if anyone read that thread about Ian G and some kid Ralphie, I believe someone in there someone said something about a ball python can contract hookworms from a person if they had handled a bearded dragon without properly washing their hands....is this true?

I ask because my g/f wants a BP and they have a bearded dragon in the house so I want to find some stuff for her and her family to read about so they don't endanger the BP or beardie

Any help is greatly appreciated

(ps. sorry if this isnt the right section but I thought it would be okay here...)

I dont know the answer to your question but washing your hands after handling any reptile is a good habit to get into.

There are many people here that have bp and beardies without any complications.

Wash those hands! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

I dont know the answer to your question but washing your hands after handling any reptile is a good habit to get into.

There are many people here that have bp and beardies without any complications.

Wash those hands! :D

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Thanks, thats what I figured but I wanted to make sure there wasn't like a greater risk or something you know.

Like anti-bacterial soap or any kind of soap??

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

I dont know the answer to your question but washing your hands after handling any reptile is a good habit to get into.

There are many people here that have bp and beardies without any complications.

Wash those hands! :D

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I was my hands before and after handling once for them and then once for me :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ted1025

Thanks, thats what I figured but I wanted to make sure there wasn't like a greater risk or something you know.

Like anti-bacterial soap or any kind of soap??

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I keep a bottle of the anti-bacterial Puriel kind of jobby by my rack.

It's important to keep in mind that a bearded dragon can only transmit hookworm to a ball python if the bearded dragon HAS hookworms. If it does, it should be treated!
Have your vet run a fecal exam on the beardie to check it for parasites. Quarantine any new animals, and have the vet check them too, before you even put them in the same room, let alone handle them without washing your hands in between.

In general, you should ALWAYS wash your hands after handling a reptile--between different reptiles, and before doing anything else. Never swap cage furniture, either.

The whole reason that the hookworm thing came into play is the fact that as a general rule, crickets are known to carry hookworms. The majority of insect eating lizards are fed crickets and can easily get hookworm fromt he crickets you are feeding them. There should be no reason why a ball python should get hook worms and in the case of the inexperienced keeper ralphie he had already stated he had a group of beardies and how the vet had to treat the ball python for hookworms. It could easily be concluded that the ball python probably got the hookworms from the keeper not properly sanitizing himself between holding the different species. Todd