Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Jayed

Let me expand on the title, what diseases can a hoggie/CB snake have which it can pass to humans?

I know that you can get salmonella from them, but is there anything else?

Basically for the last month or so I have been going to the hospital for tests, I've been quite ill and finally had a CT scan which showed that every lymph node in my chest was puffed up, some quite massively so!

The current thinking is that in lymphoma, but the Dr I spoke to today (who did a biopsy) said that I could have caught something from my hoggie..:/

Anyone know of a disease humans can catch from touching snakes?

Thanks!

Confused

baldeagle · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

Hi Jayed- sorry to hear about your problem, I'm no doctor but I seem to recall reading about the lymph system being involved in venomous snake bites, I think it is the lymph system that may help to spread the venom, not the venous system,(blood). I know that the application of elasticated tubular bandages is meant to slow down the flow of venom via the lymph. If this is the case then technically you would only have a problem if you had been bitten by your Hognose? Either from the saliva in the reptiles mouth or from contact with the rear fang. maybe even a cut on the hand may have been resposible when handling the snake? It's a bit of a puzzle and I hope you find the answer and also get well.
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jimbo

quasimodo · Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:41 pm Post subject:

Can only speak from personal experience as I am not a medico, but here goes. About three and a half years ago I was being investigated for the causes of my chest disease. Bloods, scans, x-ray and biopsy. Specialist asked all sorts of questions about pets. Did I have birds etc., etc. Told him about reptile collection and he dismissed the idea, no that would not have been the cause. He did not ask any questions about which snakes, just no cannot be that.

Hope that you find the answer to your illness, then they can get on with treating it. Get well Smile

Sue

tigerbaby2k · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:00 am Post subject:

Heya,
Its not well recognised, but snakes can spontaneously develop Tuberculosis with the speices of mycobaterium called Mycobacterium marinum. Now this can cause granulomas and enlarge lymph nodes if passed onto humans, eg via skin abrasion. Its not commonly diagnosed, mainly because its rarely thought of. Worth looking into
Hope you ok Confused

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Sophxx

Counting down the weeks til I get my Cham! My beardie is 10 1/2 years old Smile

1.0 Bearded Dragon
1.0 Lhasa apso
1.1 Lionheads
0.1 Syrian Hamster

quasimodo · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:28 am Post subject:

Eeerch

Shows how much 'Specialists' know.... Let us know how you get on Jayed, be thinking of you Smile

baldeagle · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:36 am Post subject:

It might even be worthwhile contacting a school of tropical medicine, I believe those that keep collections of venomous snakes for the production of antivenin,may also be researching illnesses that can be caused by reptile to human contact? I seem to recall an article published in a nursing journal in the 60's, going on about TB from snakes to humans. This was linked to an article by the late Dr. H.A.Reid of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Hope you get to the bottom of it all and get sorted. Cheers Jim E.
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jimbo

tigerbaby2k · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:05 am Post subject:

Jayed · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys!

TB was mentioned on Wednesday, but it had never occurred to me that I might catch it from my snake. I work in a University so if it was TB I would have assumed it was from a student.

Would a snake show signs of TB though? She is pretty healthy..