people catching salmonella from their pet frogs

[frank_zappa]

just came across this article and thought it could affect some people here:

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2010/01/08/pet_frogs_linked_to_salmonella_outbreak/

[annageckos]

Alot of reptiles and amphibians carry salmonella. So do birds, mostly in thier droppings. It is worse when people do not keep inclosers properly cleaned. You should always was your hands before AND after handling these animals. I have been around these animals all my life and never had problems. And I will amit, I don't alway wash my hands after handling. But, the cages are kept clean.

[Wild Turkey]

I agree, a lot of pets carry this disease, but that hasnt stopped it from being used by proponents of banning exotic reptiles in the past. In reality all of our pets carry a slue of diseases and parasites that may or may not be transmittable to you in any given set of circumstances.

Always wash your hands before and after handling all pets imo. I even wash my hands after playing with my dog when i remember. Having her spit and hair on my hands may not bother me, but it may bother people that are touching things after me.

[frank_zappa]

they should give that information in the article, but they probably just do not know it. i have never kept amphibians or reptiles and i had never heard of it before.

[annageckos]

IMO, most articals are one sided or lean heavily to one side. Reptiles and amphibians are highly misunderstood animals. And right now Peta and the HSUS are trying to get all reptiles banned. Their goal is to not have any animals in captivity.

[Taurus]

Alot of reptiles and amphibians carry salmonella.

That's a well known fact.

[jay2487]

It's funny to me, salmonella is the reason that a lot of states have the 4 inch minimum size rule when it comes to turtles. Not that smaller turtles put off more salmonella but that children are more likely to put them in or near there mouths at that size, how f***ed up is that?! A lot of fish and wildlife laws are straight socialist

[annageckos]

It's funny to me, salmonella is the reason that a lot of states have the 4 inch minimum size rule when it comes to turtles. Not that smaller turtles put off more salmonella but that children are more likely to put them in or near there mouths at that size, how f***ed up is that?! A lot of fish and wildlife laws are straight socialist

Yup, because they are 'bite sized' for kids turtles under 4 inches are banned. This goes with more than just animals and for everyone, not just kids. The ban and recall things instead of making people be responsible. If you get where drinking at a ban and get into an accident the bar can be sued. The person drinking is not responsible(<---sarcasum--->) It was all the bars' fault for making them drink. The just recalled shades because of the strings on them. Shouldn't the parents watch thier kids and keep things that could be dangerous out of their reach? This is just something that really gets to me. Everyone always wants to blame someone else, people are not responsible for thier actions anymore.

[frank_zappa]

well, i had no idea about salmonella from these animals...it makes sense that it would be tied to keeping them in poor conditions and mishandling them. there are all sorts of nasty diseases that are transmitted by cats and dogs, too, if you dont take proper care of them. the article really should mention that. i do not think it is common knowledge to most people, maybe it is common knowledge on this site, but not in general. people are going to read that and think you can get salmonella just from touching any pet frog. that is from the boston globe

[HomaridNoob6]

I wash my hands religiously (soaplessly before) and after doing things in my tanks. Also after I used to handle any frogs or turtles I used to keep. Well, once I'm done with what I'm doing in my tanks I wash. I got some sort of poisoning once which I believe I got from smoking a cigarette after going newt catching in a place that may or may not have had sewage runoff, which I had no clue of at the time... I really thought it was a well known, actually almost universally known fact that many of the animals we keep can carry diseases. In a way I'm surprised so many people might be unaware of the possibility, but then also I'm not too surprised, because I cannot recall anyone at a pet store specifically telling me it was possible. I do know that most places have small tags that say this or that animal can transmit diseases and so on, but that's only really become common in the last 5-10 years or so.

It isn't a big worry for me honestly, I think you're more likely to get salmonella going to a low rate restaurant or a bad truck stop than from your animals as long as you practice proper hygiene. Yes, I have gotten extremely sick at a truck stop, worse than the newt incident.

I imagine there can be some nasty stuff in tank water that could infect a human but is harmless to the fish, one reason I don't start siphons by sucking on a hose. If you really look at the numbers though, it isn't very common.

Thanks for posting this though, spreading the knowledge about it to people that don't know is a great way to help prevent it.

[Northernguy]

When my boys were babies my brother and I shared a house.He had a room with set up for his 3 iguanas.He had one almost 8ft long from nose to tip of tail.My son wa two when I was asked to take care of them for a few days.I used to hand feed them sometimes.I had my son in there with me one day.I sat him on a branch beside where I was sitting while I fed them.I was holding him still.
He showed no fear of the iguanas,he liked them and wanted to feed them by hand.lol I knew nothing about the salmonilla thing then.
My son started getting sick that night.
He had it for a while and we couldn't figure it out.Doctors knew about the lizards and said nothing to me about it.This went on for near a year before my brother moved out.A few weeks later it all stopped.My son was fine.The only time he ever got sick after thatwas just colds and minor ear infections.
Those things should never be near kids.I do blame myself for sitting him on the branch in the first place but I just had no idea!

[frank_zappa]

finally, somebody else who had no idea that it's 'common knowledge'.