Most pregnant women realize that some pets could be a source of health problems. For instance, pregnant women should specifically avoid changing the kitty litter. But other animals also pose threats to pregnant women and young kids. A few of these animals are not obvious, and something that definitely should be avoided may be the small turtle.
A Serious Disease
Small turtles, individuals with a shell length of less than 4 inches, can be as source of Salmonella infections in humans. There are various species of the Salmonella bacteria. The illness cause by Salmonella from turtles is generally a gastrointestinal illness marked by:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps and tenderness
- Fever
However, the germ can invade other parts from the body and cause blood infections, bone infections, and meningitis. Children less than 5 years old, particularly those less than Six months, are more vulnerable to developing one of these more serious, invasive infections.
Salmonellosis, or infection caused by Salmonella, is typical. Each year within the U.S., these germs cause about 1.2 million illnesses in humans, 23,000 hospitalizations, and 450 deaths.
At the peak ownership of these small turtles in the early 1970s, approximately 15 million turtle hatchlings were sold in the U.S., and 4% of all households in the country owned at least one pet turtle. These turtles taken into account 14% of all cases of human salmonellosis.
Against the Law
In 1975, in an effort to lessen the number of illnesses caused by Salmonella, the Food and Drug Administration banned the sale and distribution of turtles with a shell period of <4 inches within the U.S. After this ban, only 6% of Salmonella infections in the country were related to reptile and amphibian exposure. The ban is credited with preventing 100,000 infections in youngsters less than Ten years old each year.
But lately, despite the ban remaining in place, the proportion of households owning at least one pet turtle has doubled, there have been outbreaks of Salmonella infections across the nation.
From 2006 to 2023, there have been 15 multistate turtle-associated salmonellosis outbreaks reported towards the Cdc and Prevention. These outbreaks taken into account 921 illnesses, 156 hospitalizations, and also the death of a 3½-week-old infant. The median chronilogical age of affected patients in all outbreaks was less than Ten years old, demonstrating that children are most in danger of turtle-associated salmonellosis.
Upon further investigation of these cases, most turtles were obtained from untraceable sources, such as street vendors, flea markets, or received as gifts. Only 13% from the turtles were purchased at a pet store.
Avoid Small Turtles . . . Which Other Reptiles
So the lesson is: avoid small turtles if you are pregnant or have children in your home. When you get one as a present, politely decline it.
But small turtles aren’t the only dangerous pets that carry Salmonella. Other reptiles that have been linked to salmonellosis include:
- Iguanas
- Bearded dragons
- Snakes
- Chameleons
- Geckos
Pets offer plenty of benefits, but avoid little turtles and also the others on this list.