What is reptile-associated salmonellosis?
Salmonella is a bacterium that causes an infection called salmonellosis in the intestines. Increasingly, rare types have been identified in persons who have had no other apparent exposures other than contact with pet reptiles. While the diarrhea and fever caused by Salmonella bacteria may be a self-limiting condition in healthy adults, salmonellosis in infants and elderly persons often requires hospitalization and can be a life-threatening condition. Reptile owners can get the disease when they forget to wash their hands after handling a reptile or after cleaning its cage, and can then spread the disease to others. When reptiles are allowed free access to the home, they may also contaminate bathtubs, sinks, carpets, etc. How is reptile-associated salmonellosis spread?
