CDC: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pet Bearded Dragons (2024)

FAQs

How common is it to get salmonella from a bearded dragon? ›

Key takeaways: Two cases of Salmonella infection in Canada and 12 in the U.S. were linked to bearded dragons. Most cases occurred in children, who are more susceptible to infection and illness.

The outbreak of a rare strain of salmonella that sickened scores of people, including several infants, across the United States and Canada, has been linked to pet bearded dragons, some most likely obtained from the same breeder in Southeast Asia, according to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and ...

Reptile-associated salmonellosis (RAS) can pose a serious health threat to humans, especially children, and an estimated 6% of human sporadic salmonellosis cases have been attributed to direct or indirect contact with reptiles, although the exact number is not known.

Pet bearded dragons have been linked to several past Salmonella outbreaks, including one announced in January 2022 involving Salmonella Uganda that sickened 56 people from 26 states. The CDC urges people to wash their hands after handling bearded dragons and to avoid kissing or snuggling with them.

Like most reptiles, bearded dragons do carry diseases -- most common of them salmonella -- that can be passed to humans.

Metabolic bone disease (MBD), or nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, is a complex disease that is one of the more common diseases in pet bearded dragons. It is most often seen in juvenile bearded dragons (less than two years old).

Within reptiles, each adenovirus tends to infect only one species or group (i.e., cross-infection and zoonosis are not likely). Bearded dragons have a very high chance of having this disease. Transmission is not completely understood, but definitely includes fecal-oral routes, and transmission from mother to offspring.

Most people with Salmonella infection have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days. However, some people do not develop symptoms for several weeks after infection and others experience symptoms for several weeks.

Some animals are more likely to spread Salmonella to people, including poultry, reptiles, amphibians, and rodents. These animals are not recommended as pets for people at higher risk of severe illness from Salmonella.

How do I know if my reptile has Salmonella? ›

Fecal (stool) or cloacal cultures will determine if your pet is carrying the bacteria. Since they have to be shedding the bacteria in their feces (stool) and some only shed the bacteria intermittently, several cultures may be necessary to detect Salmonella.

When illness does occur in reptiles, the clinical signs are variable but can include reduced appetite, skin inflammation, breathing difficulties and abscesses. Most Salmonella infections in wild and captive reptiles are carried in the animal's gastrointestinal tract and shed in the droppings.

It is always best to have your bearded dragon's feces tested for Salmonella if there is a concern for the health of family members that have contact with your bearded dragon.

In some cases the bacteria caused serious bloodstream infection, bone infection or invaded the central nervous system requiring lengthy hospitalization and some cases have been fatal in infants. The CDC estimates that there are between 50,000 to 80,000 cases of reptile-associated salmonellosis annually in the U.S.

Q: Can you catch anything off blue-tongue lizards if you kiss them? A: Like any animal, lizards can carry pathogens, particularly salmonella (which every animal has in its faeces) so normal hygiene practices should be followed.

It is always best to have your bearded dragon's feces tested for Salmonella if there is a concern for the health of family members that have contact with your bearded dragon. Prevention through proper hygiene is the best control against salmonellosis.

“Several captive-bred reptiles do make good pets, especially bearded dragons.” All reptiles have the potential to transmit Salmonella to humans, as do birds, especially poultry.

Myth: Salmonellosis is almost always caused by contaminated food. Fact: Over 70,000 people get Salmonellosis from contact with reptiles in the United States each year. A study of 1,387 cases of Salmonellosis revealed that reptiles caused almost half of cases in children less than 5 years of age.