A rare strain of Salmonella that has affected several infants in the United States and Canada in recent years can be traced back to pet bearded dragons, according to a new study published this week.
The study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), examined animals that may have been sold by the same breeder in Southeast Asia, and found that this species and the Salmonella vitokin outbreak across North America in 2021-2022. showed a relationship with the occurrence of .
The results come as the bearded dragon, also known as the pogona, has steadily become a popular household pet across the United States, having been shared on social media in recent months.
The study found that two confirmed cases of Salmonella enterica serovar Vitkin infection in Ontario, Canada in 2022 were “linked by whole-genome sequencing in infants.” Both households keep bearded dragons as pets.
getty
“The outbreak strain was also isolated from environmental samples collected from the patient's bearded dragon habitat,” CDCP said. In the United States, 12 cases were traced between March 2021 and September 2022.
Native to Australia, bearded dragons are available for purchase in pet stores throughout the United States and Canada, and are most likely bred in captivity.
The CDCP investigation found that the Ontario patients were “importing the bearded dragons from a variety of suppliers, including international suppliers located in Southeast Asia” through a single common intermediary, and the patients were transported to various pet stores across the province. It is reported that bearded dragons were being sold from
getty
This supplier stopped importing reptiles from its international suppliers at the end of 2021. Further investigation revealed that pet stores selling bearded dragons in the United States were supplied by a sole supplier who purchased the reptiles from the same international supplier, the report said.
It is currently recommended that bearded dragons kept as pets should not roam outside their aquariums to prevent further outbreaks.
Never miss a news. Sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to human interest stories.
“They are the golden retrievers of the reptile world when it comes to ease of handling,” said Dr. LaToya Ratney, president of the Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarian Association and reptile owner. new york times. “It actually makes them more likely to get sick or get injured.”
Families with young children should be careful when keeping amphibians in general. Bearded dragons carry salmonella in their digestive tracts, which can be spread in their feces and on the skink's skin, making handling a potential source of infection spread.
