Pet Turtles and Salmonella

Of all the aquatic life kept as pets, the pet turtle is most preferred, especially by children. Small and cute, they carry the salmonella bacteria, which pose health risk for the families who pet them.

Salmonella
Salmonella is the genus name for over 2500 types of bacteria, that causes the salmonella infection. It is transmitted from chicken, eggs and pet turtles among other things. Many reptiles and amphibians carry this bacteria as a normal part of their bacterial flora. Salmonella bacteria are rod-shaped and flagellated with specific protein coating, and are known to cause diseases in humans worldwide.

Salmonella Bacteria and Pet Turtles
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 50,000 cases of salmonella infection are reported in the United States annually, and of them nearly, one third are children below the age of 4. The main cause for this infection has been linked to turtles. Turtles carry non-typhoidal salmonella bacteria on their outer skin and shell, and are most likely to transmit it to children, as they are generally seen playing with them. They pose a greater risk to people with compromised immune systems.

Salmonella infection can be transmitted by handling turtles or touching surfaces that have been tainted by salmonella in turtle feces. However, salmonella can spread to people even through indirect contact with a turtle or its feces, as the bacteria can even infect food, water or any surface it comes in contact with. This infection is not transmitted through a bite or scratch.

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection
Most salmonella infections exhibit symptoms, within three days of its exposure and contamination, in the human body. It causes fever, nausea, headache, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea (at times with blood). When the salmonella bacteria are not killed by the immune system, fever turns to typhoid fever, in which the liver and spleen become enlarged, and a red spotted skin-rash may appear. Salmonella grows in human spleen, liver and other organs, infecting the blood. If left untreated, this infection leads to other diseases, like pneumonia or meningitis. People with weak immune systems, non-functioning spleen and/or cell diseases, are more prone to be infected by salmonella bacteria. Even patients who take cancer fighting and chronic stomach acid suppression medication, may contract this infection.

Preventing Salmonella Infection
Salmonella infection is contagious, so taking precautions to avoid spreading bacteria from your pet turtle, to others, is essential. Ensure no turtles are kept in your child's care centers. The easiest way to avoid this infection, is not to keep turtles at home. However, if this situation can't be avoided, the following should be kept in mind:

• Always wash hands with a disinfectant soap and water, after handling the turtle.
• Do not bring the turtle close to your infants, elderly and sick people.
• Do not let the turtle have free access to the whole house, especially the children play area.
• Keep the pet turtle away from kitchen and food preparation places.
• Avoid bathing the turtle in kitchen sink or bathtub. In case, you do it, clean the place thoroughly, with a disinfectant.
• Do not allow children to clean their cages and feed them directly by their hand.

In 1975, the U.S. government banned the sale of pet turtles with shells less than 4 inches long except for scientific, educational or exhibition purposes, due to the increasing risk of contagious salmonella infection. However, that has still not stopped people from owning them as pets. Following good hygiene procedures, is the only prevention one can take to reduce the risk of salmonella infections.