Most reptiles cannot tolerate much handling and do best when provided with an environment as close as possible to their natural habitat and then left alone. Reptiles also require specialized diets often involving live prey, fresh vegetation, and vitamin and/or mineral supplements. Because of these requirements, reptiles are pets best suited to adults or older children who will enjoy observing their pet’s behavior rather than playing with it.
Reptiles can transfer some disease-causing organisms to humans. Children under the age of 10 years, pregnant women, elderly people, and people with a weakened immune system are more susceptible. Even if your reptile is not sick, it can still pass disease-causing organisms to you. Salmonella species, Edwardsiella species bacteria, and various parasites, fungi, and protozoa are just some of the potential disease-causing organisms transmitted from reptiles that can cause disease in humans see Table: Diseases that can be Spread from Reptiles to People.
Diseases that can be Spread from Reptiles to People
Organism |
Found in |
Disease it Causes |
Human Symptoms |
Salmonella |
Turtles and tortoises, lizards, and snakes |
Salmonellosis |
Upset stomach, cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting; can become life threatening |
Edwardsiella |
Turtles and tortoises, snakes |
Gastroenteritis; neonatal sepsis and meningitis |
Same as salmonellosis plus more life-threatening illnesses |
Spirometra |
Snakes |
Sparganosis |
Painful and inflamed skin nodules, swelling and inflammation around the eye; could travel to the brain |
Pentastomes (tongue worms) |
Snakes |
Pentastomiasis |
Usually causes no symptoms; high numbers of worms can cause abscesses, masses, or blockage of ducts in various organs, with symptoms depending on the location |
*Note: This is not a comprehensive list of infections passed from reptiles to people, but it includes the ones that are most common. (For a more detailed discussion of diseases you can catch from animals, see Introduction to Diseases Spread between Animals and People (Zoonoses). |
Because of the risk of bites, it is not recommended that you keep venomous snakes or reptiles as pets.
For More Information
Also see professional content regarding reptiles.