Prevalence of Salmonella?

[Blitzjg]

So up until recently I was under the misconception that salmonella was part of the normal flora of most if not all reptiles and birds... this is not the case as I understand it now, but I still don't know as much as I would like to so I have some statements and questions I am hoping someone can correct, verify, or answer.

1. Salmonella does not normally cause disease in reptiles or birds.
2. Salmonella can exist as part of the normal gut flora in reps and birds. How common is it?
3. Are there any effects (positive/negative) of a reptile/bird that harbors salmonella? Can you tell without micro techniques if your reptile/bird is carrying it?
4. Salmonella DOES cause disease in humans.
5. Does Salmonella cause disease in household pets?
6. Salmonella can be contracted via the fecal/oral route. Can it cause disease through wounds and other orifaces?
7. Can Salmonella be transmitted via fomites? I.E. If my snake crawls on my remote or bed and carries salmonella, are these items now potentially a source of infection?
8. And finally one slightly off-topic question, do I need to be concerned about exposing my snakes to isopropyl alcohol that may not have completely evaporated from applying hand-sanitizer?

[Mephibosheth1]

Some clarification on this would be great....I was always under the impression (from veterinarians with extensive herp and avian experience) that salmonella was the comparable form of E. coli for these other species...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I can tell you that you are more likely in your lifetime to contract salmonella from some spinach from the grocery store then you are from your reptiles.

Of course that doesn't mean that you shouldn't practise good hygiene however it is true regardless of the animal you are dealing with, common sense would tell you that you should watch your end after handling your snake, but it applies to other animals as well.

Salmonella in reptiles is one of the "bogeyman" used by HSUS on why reptiles are not suitable pets when chances of contracting salmonella from your reptiles is very small.

[Mephibosheth1]

Not trying to contradict, but is there good scientific data to support that analysis??

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Not trying to contradict, but is there good scientific data to support that analysis??

Yes but I would need to find it again.

[Shera]

I have no answers for you except that I spent the better part of my childhood catching snakes, toads, frogs. and painted turtles (tons of them!), and my parents never taught me to wash my hands and I was (and am, unfortunately) a big time nail-bitter. All of this happened during warm months, since I live in Ontario Canada, and I honestly can't think of a single time I had the stomach flu in the summer (got it sometimes during the school year though). I certainly didn't have it more than your average kid. I also swam in a small lake that was later found to be full of coliforms, and yet, I never (or at least infrequently enough that I don't remember) got sick. I honestly think that exposure to the over population in my classroom was far more likely to cause illness, than my summer-time reptile obsession.

[Mephibosheth1]

Cool
Thanks; interesting to know

[MootWorm]

Very interesting topic. I know I'm guilty of touching reptiles and not washing my hands after, especially when i was a kid. To no ill effects. I always wash before nowadays, but sometimes I forget to after

[Mr Oni]

Yeaaah....i sorta forget alot myself....especially having a few beers and playing with my snakey friends....eating doritos and stuff.

You'd think with 7 bottles of hand sanitizer right next to the rack and tanks i would remember.

[treeboa]

I'm going to have to look up the info again, but I just saw some things on this. I believe snakes are not carriers of the disease but at least some lizards and tortoises are. You could still get it from a snake if the snake ate an infected rodent because it would shed the bacteria in it's feces. I've, also, read that dogs get ill from salmonella the same as humans. Salmonella and E. coli are entirely different bacteria. E. coli is a much more serious infection and has caused deaths.

You are much more inclined to get bacterial gastroenteritis from food than a pet due to poor processing practices combined with unsafe food handling on your part.