Snakes, Salmonella, and Small Children- a question.

heckthecat · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 04:33 AM

Ok, I have a 5 foot long redtail boa named Kyo, and he's liek my best friend right now. However, my mom is very pregnant, and actually being induced tomorrow. Here I have a question- I've heard snakes can carry salmonella, and other diseases, and I carry Kyo with me a lot. He actualy doesn't have aproper enclosure yet, and I can't bear to leave him in the Rubbermaid all teh time. I may possibly move down with my grandmother soon, and there I have the same problem- is it safe to keep my snake around kids and old people? Could I let my baby brother touch him?

Dillon

LdyDrgn · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 04:51 AM

Yes, it is safe, as long as you keep a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby (Purell, etc.). After handling/touching ALWAYS sanitize your hands.

JuliusSqueezer · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 05:30 AM

Certain types of salmonella are part of the natural gut flora found in both reptiles and humans and many other animals. It usually only becomes an issue with very young reptiles and very young humans or humans with a lowered immuno system due to other illnesses or certain steroids and other drugs in use could cause an infection from salmonella. Once the reptile or person matures, the bacteria is still there helping you digest food but it's not likely to infect you from contact because your body builds resistance. This is why the ban in many states on turtles under 4 inches. Kids put stuff in their mouths..put fingers in their mouths alot and if they handle a young reptile and then stick their fingers in their mouth...ick...It isn't really the size of the reptile that is the issue but the age. It should be argued that many smaller species of turtles are fine at a much smaller size than 4 inches but they were going pretty much after red eared sliders because baby sliders were HUGE in the pet market in the 60s and 70s when the big salmonella scare got so publicized. Generally, healthy people over the age of 21 aren't near as likely to be infected with it. You are far more likely to get it from handling raw chicken. At any rate, fecal matter going into the mouth is how it is spread. So like Ldydrgn said...sanitize your hands before handling the baby. I hope the baby isn't allowed to handle the boa anyway so that shouldn't be an issue. You might think...so don't touch the boas butt...but keep in mind too that they crawl around on their belly and crawl through their own poop so the bacteria can be anywhere on the snake. The chances of a 5 foot boa spreading salmonella is slim but don't take chances you don't have to with a baby...Just wash up good and all should be fine. It isn't spread airborn or anything like that if that's what you were wandering.

louise · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 05:15 PM

okay i have a question regarding this. i have 2 boas and me and my kids are always kissing them. my kids are 15 and 18. this cant cause diseases right? these poor snakes get kissed a 100 times a day!

toker · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 05:29 PM

Quote:

You might think...so don't touch the boas butt...but keep in mind too that they crawl around on their belly and crawl through their own poop so the bacteria can be anywhere on the snake.

By reading JuliusSqueezer post above, it is possible.

JuliusSqueezer · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 05:29 PM

of course it can.

eddie · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 05:40 PM

Mmmm...
I don't reccomend kisses unlees just after a bath and cage is kept spotless and even then.. I still don't reccomend it.

It goes just a tad deeper than Brett touched on here..

Proper husbandry/cleanliness protocol is deffinately reccomended when having young, old, weak etc in the house.

By cleaniliness, not just washing your hands after handling, but if possible, wearing a lab coat or smock, so that when you are done handling the critters, it can be taken off with little to no chance of cross contamination.
Example :
You are playing with the snakes, letting it/them crawl all over you, shoulders, head etc..
Afterwards, you wash your hands so that you can play with the baby.
The baby finds a bit of your shirt and decides to chew/suckle on it.
If there is anything on the shirt from the snake(s) then it can be immediately transfered to the baby.
A smock or just changing clothes can help prevent or eliminate the odds of transmission.

Even then, the odds are better that you will get something from a restaurants improper food preperation or food storage techniques.

John_White · #8 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 05:45 PM

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website:

"Wash your hands after contact with animal feces. Since reptiles are particularly likely to have Salmonella, everyone should immediately wash their hands after handling reptiles. Reptiles (including turtles) are not appropriate pets for small children and should not be in the same house as an infant."

For the complete text see: http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/fact/salmonella.htm

kid · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2003, 07:31 PM

I got my first snake when I was like 4 (my mom took care of it mostly) but the rules were always to wash your hand with that anti bacterial soap that you dont have to use water for its got like rubbing alchohol. You can never take to many precautions but I think it would be safe.

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