Are there any zoonoses (diseases) I can catch from my caiman?
Crocodilians normally carry a diverse variety of bacteria in their mouths and on their teeth, and infections resulting from penetrative bites are quite common. These should be dealt with using an appropriate antiseptic (e.g. povidone-iodine, cholorohexadine) unless the physical injury requires professional medical attention. The only other serious problem likely to be encountered is Salmonella, but I do not know of any recorded cases of a person catching Salmonella from a crocodilian. There are a number of different Salmonella bacteria which are frequently found in the guts of reptile species, and crocodilians often carry at least one variety in their intestinal tract. These bacteria are shed with the faeces, so in an aquatic environment the entire enclosure and water could potentially harbour these organisms. These bacteria do not normally affect a healthy crocodile, but animals in poor health can suffer from an over-proliferation of Salmonella that can lead to serious problems. Most
