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Bearded dragon lizards are praised as great pets, but health officials warn that they, like other reptiles and amphibians, can spread salmonella infections.
It might be the weirdest way yet to contract food poisoning: Take two bearded dragon lizards, combine with a big batch of turkey gravy and serve to unwitting patrons of a community potluck Thanksgiving dinner.
That’s what happened in Minnesota in 2009, when an outbreak of Salmonella infections typically associated with reptiles sickened at least 19 holiday diners and led health officials on a winding trek that led to a pair of living room lizards.
In the end, the problem was traced back to the private home of a cook who also happened to keep two of the scaly critters in a glass cage, according to a new case report detailed in the journal Zoonoses and Public Health. Three days before the potluck, the cook had made turkey, potatoes, gravy and two salads.
Within hours of the meal, three potluck patrons reported illness and experts were called in to investigate. Trouble was, none of the sick people reported contact with reptiles.
After much sleuthing, however, investigators detected the types of salmonella that made people sick, including an unusual strain of Samonella Labadi, in several places in the gravy-maker’s house, including the kitchen. Health officials said that the infections likely came from the bearded dragons, perhaps when a teenager in the home changed the critters’ food and water dishes using the kitchen sink.
Researchers say it’s just another reminder that reptiles -- including lizards, turtles and snakes -- may be great pets, but they’re also a common source of infections that can be dangerous, even deadly, to very young children and others with vulnerable immune systems. Amphibians, too, can pose problems, such as the recent outbreak of salmonella in more than 200 people caused by pet African dwarf frogs.
The risk of salmonella poisoning in homes that keep reptiles is well documented, the researchers say. But it’s another thing entirely for lax food handlers to sicken large groups of people, all for the sake of a couple scaly pets. They call for better education about food safety -- and more vigilance to keep reptile bacteria away from the gravy.
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Any serious lizard owner knows you have to wash hands and disinfect after handling lizards. Shame on them for not being more careful.
I've lived with a 4-foot ball python for over 10 years. At first, I did get rather sick a couple of times from handling her and simply forgetting to wash-up afterward. As years past though, it seemed my body developed a resistance to the reptile-born bacteria and the symptoms were so mild I hardly noticed, so I admit I got complacent, but then a visitor whom I let handle the snake got sick when he forgot to wash-up (even after I reminded him to). Fortunately he didn't blame me though--a rare case of personal responsibility!
People who own reptiles develop a tolerance (if not immunity) to the associated zoonoses over time and start to take it for granted, so let this be a reminder to them to remember not everyone they or their scaly pets come into contact with shares their acquired resistance. Best practice is to treat each handling session with their reptile pets as if it's the first time and wash thoroughly and keep the cage cleaning and water-changing operations well-clear of food-handling areas. Be especially diligent when preparing food for others whose closest contact with a reptile was most-likely a National Geographic special.
Remember reptiles are polythermic ("cold-blooded is a misnomer, more like "room-temperature-blooded") and therefore generally function at lower body temperatures than mammals and their immune systems aren't threatened enough to kill the bacteria off and that's why salmonella can survive in them until they have a chance to thrive in a warm-blooded mammal again. Think of it this way: you wouldn't want to serve a meal on a plate made from meat that's been left out at room temperature for 10 years either.
So love yer lizards, but keep that bottle of hand sanitizer by the cage in plain view to remind you of the consequences. Otherwise, you'll feel them next trip-or-twelve to the bathroom. Also don't take your acquired resistance for granted that anyone else around you shares it, or you'll get a call from their doctor--then their lawyer! How's that for inspiration?
Very well written and informative. Thank you for the information.
Cooking the meal "three" days is enough to make anyone sick!
My thoughts exactly!
Absolutely three days is too old! That is the age at which you are to toss out almost anything in your refrigerator other than condiments! Restaurants always toss food out that is that old (if they want to stay in business!) Whatever bacteria was in it to begin with had 3 full days to multiply exponentionally!
Three days!?! Yuck! I would not even want to serve that to my cats! And potlucks are dangerous anyway, what with the food all sitting out at room temperature for hours.
I have several reptile pets, and nobody ever gets sick from food I prepare. Simple hygiene and throwing old food out are routine in my house.
You're right! It's the people's fault, not the pets. It is a matter of simple hygiene! We have a leopard gecko and no one has ever gotten sick from food in our house either. With our allergies to furry animals, reptiles make great pets for us in this family. We've had a spiny lizard, green anoles, and now our gecko. He's quite friendly and curious too!
I worked at the Columbus zoo for 3.5 years with reptiles. I got sick zero times. I kept savannah monitors (Varanus exanthematicus) for years afterwards. I had a south American red footed tortoise for over a decade. My family and I got sick zero (none, Nada) times as a result. Food poisoning is a serious issue, but the cause is not pets (reptiles, mammals, or birds/crocodilians). The cause is poor food handling and cross contamination. This is almost a non-story.
Never use the same tube of lipstick your iguana uses.
LOL!
HA.