Do turtles or tortoises carry diseases?

Question

desert tortoises or any other speices that carry diseases?

Answer 1

The first answer is totally wrong. They carry salmonella which can be very bad for adults and dangerous for children.

Answer 2

Yes, like almost every other animal on Earth, turtles and tortoises carry and can get diseases.

The main one is Salmonella- which is annoying, but both common and generally no big deal. If you've ever had the 'stomach flu' or '24 hour bug' you've had Salmonellosis- a short bout of diarrhea and vomiting. It can cause dehydration in the very young or old, but the typical 'household' Salmonella germs do not cause the more serious kinds of infections that other forms can.

They generally get Salmonella from contact with their own feces.

They can get various respiratory diseases from people, and different species can get many different infections- including a rather aggressive herpesvirus that tortoises can get.

Answer 3

Many different types of bacteria are common for Chelonia. Turtles ( particuarly aquatic turtles ) may commonly carry salmonella, though it is false that they ALWAYS do. Salmonella is not normal gut flora. Many are known to carry salmonella and sometimes staph in their saliva, particularly if kept in unclean housing, water conditions, or with spoiled food or dirty prey insects. Tortoises, not so much, when kept in clean conditions. The harmful bacteria that may cause zoonosis in humans usually comes from dirty or spoiling vegetables. As the tortoise is a herbivore, it is less prone to carry pathogens common to insectivore/carnivorous turtles.

Answer 4

Salmonella is carried by all reptiles and can be passed to humans. Also there is a fungus called Amphibian Chytrid Fungus that most domestic turtles are immune to but it's deadly to desert tortoises on account they have no natural immunity to it. It effects their lungs and respiratory system.

Answer 5

This jogs my memory of a chum, who asked me to stay over at her homestead for a visit. She had a turtle, and he or she washed out this is bowl in her kitchen sink, and then rinsed the turtle off interior the comparable sink, then she placed a bite of frozen meat interior the sink to thaw, for particular, I made an excuse to leave.

Answer 6

Yes they do, most of the diseases do not affect humans but there are a few that do.

Answer 7

They are like humans...we all carry disease if not housed properly. Samonella...hmmm if you keep there home clean and you are not suckin back water ....you are ok...just get in the habit of keeping their habitat clean, washing your hands and keeping them outta your mouth.......

Answer 8

salmonela is the most common one but if you have it from hte wild it will have some diseases if you get it from hte pet store it shouldnt have any or else you can sue.

Answer 9

Yes.