General Care Discussion :: Turtle Diseases

[comills]

Besides samonella, I am wondering if there are any diseases that are transmissable to humans. Does anyone have any insight into this question?

[marisa]

You may find some info here: http://www.anapsid.org/chomel.html It covers a variety of species, scroll down until you get to the Turtle, Lizard, Snake, etc. section.

[kaimarion]

Don't worry as long as you wash your hands you will be fine .

[Safdar]

Just keep those antibacterial hand sanitizers next to the tank

All you have to do is squirt some into your hand
and rub till its dry

No water and wet hands
And its quick =D

Thats what i use
Too lazy to get up and go wash my hands

[scripta_elegans]

There aren't any zoonotic diseases that you can get through a non direct vector, such as air bourne, or droplet. In other words if you wash or sanitize your hands after handling the turtle or it's water like everyone stated, there is nothing to worry about.

[untsmurf]

Does the turtle always carry salmonella or is it just a risk that they could carry it? If they had it at one point, will it ever go away?

[scripta_elegans]

There's an excellent chance that most turtles harbor salmonella. That doesn't mean that they shed the bacteria all the time, or that you have a good chance of contracting salmonellosis. It is a naturally occuring organism in turtles just as E coli is in humans. Even the tests that show neg for salmonella with turtles, may be because it isn't being shed from their intestines at the time. The average healthy adult who washes their hands after contact with reptiles has nothing to worry about. Turtles do tend to shed more of the bacteria in stressful or dirty enviornments, so keeping their tank clean and the turtles unstressed can help. As a side note, I would also recommend NOT sticking the turtle in your mouth. It seems like common sense, but it happened frequently in the 70's, and was part of the reason for banning baby turtle sales.

[Turtle_Turtle]

As a side note, I would also recommend NOT sticking the turtle in your mouth. It seems like common sense, but it happened frequently in the 70's, and was part of the reason for banning baby turtle sales.

thanks for the info, i would never think of putting a animal in my mouth