Preventing Salmonella in Your Home
Although this article was written with reptiles in mind, the information applies to all exotic pets including rodents, birds, and other animals.
This information was developed by the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is intended for informational purposes only. Please seek advice from your physician and your reptile’s veterinarian if questions or problems arise.
About Salmonella in Reptiles
Most, if not all, reptiles carry Salmonella bacteria in their intestinal tract and intermittently or continuously shed these bacteria in their feces. Salmonella usually does not cause illness in reptiles but can cause serious illness in people.
Salmonella spreads from reptiles to humans when a person touches something that has been in contact with reptile feces and then puts their hands in their mouth. Infants, for example, have become infected after drinking from bottles of formula that were contaminated during preparation by caregivers who had not washed their hands after handling a reptile, or because reptiles were allowed on kitchen counters. Simply touching or holding a reptile will not spread bacteria unless something contaminated with feces — or the reptile itself — is placed in the mouth.
Most Salmonella infections in people result in a mild, self-limiting illness with diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. However, the infection can spread to the bloodstream, bone marrow, or nervous system, leading to severe and sometimes fatal illness. Severe infections are more likely in infants and individuals with compromised immune systems — including bone marrow transplant recipients, people with diabetes, people living with HIV, and chemotherapy patients.
Unfortunately, Salmonella cannot be eliminated from the intestinal tract of reptiles. Antibiotics are ineffective and may lead to antibiotic-resistant strains. Attempts to identify Salmonella-free reptiles through bacterial culture of stool samples have also been unsuccessful and are not recommended.
Prevention
The spread of Salmonella from reptiles to humans can be easily prevented with the following precautions:
- Always wash your hands with hot, soapy water after handling reptiles, reptile cages and equipment, and reptile feces.
- Do not allow reptiles access to the kitchen, dining room, bathroom sinks or tubs, or any area where food is prepared or infants are bathed. Consider keeping reptiles caged or limiting where they roam. Always wash your hands after contact with any area where reptiles are allowed to roam.
- Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling reptiles, cages, or equipment. Do not kiss reptiles or share food or drink with them.
- Do not use the kitchen sink, kitchen counters, or bathroom sinks and tubs to bathe reptiles or clean reptile cages, dishes, or aquariums. A dedicated plastic basin or tub is recommended. Dispose of waste water and fecal material in the toilet rather than household drains.
- The CDC recommends that children under 5 avoid contact with reptiles, and that households with children under 1 year of age not own reptiles. Reptile owners with young children are encouraged to discuss risk-reduction steps with both their reptile’s veterinarian and their own physician.
- Always supervise children when they handle reptiles to ensure they do not place their hands or objects a reptile has contacted in their mouths. Reptiles should not be kept in child care centers.
- Immunocompromised individuals should avoid contact with reptiles.
- Follow your veterinarian’s instructions regarding proper diet and environment for your reptile. Healthy reptiles living in appropriate conditions are less likely to shed Salmonella bacteria.
A Note on Chickens
Chickens can also carry Salmonella bacteria, including several “host-adapted” species that cause minimal problems in the bird but can be harmful to people. The same biosecurity rules that apply to reptiles apply to chickens. Because chickens are often kept for their eggs, additional food safety measures are important:
- Clean eggs with hot water (110–120°F) to remove surface bacteria
- Never eat raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs
- Cook eggs thoroughly and refrigerate any uncooked egg products
- Disinfect all surfaces that have come into contact with raw eggs — a dilute bleach solution is adequate
This information is not meant to discourage reptile ownership. With a few exceptions — such as in households with infants or immunocompromised individuals — most people have a low risk of acquiring Salmonella from reptiles, and that risk can be reduced even further by following simple precautions. Reptiles can be safely kept as pets when owners are aware of and follow proper hygiene practices.
