Pistachiochameleon
Established Member
My doc thinks I have a parasite? is it possible that I could have gotten this from my chameleon?
Can you get sick from Cham?
- Thread starter Pistachiochameleon
- Start date
JoXie411
Chameleon Enthusiast
It’s possible. You can get salmonella from chameleons
SharpShooter
Avid Member
I work on the railway. Far more likely to catch something from the great unwashed I'm forced into contact with daily 
but yes, most reptiles carry some risk but basic hygiene methods usually negates this.
but yes, most reptiles carry some risk but basic hygiene methods usually negates this.
It is possible to get salmonella from reptiles. As above wash your hands after handling or cleaning their cages.
Their parasites are not commonly zoonotic (contagious to humans).
Sushi is an excellent way to get intestinal parasites. Usually they are temporary but they are always gross.
Their parasites are not commonly zoonotic (contagious to humans).
Sushi is an excellent way to get intestinal parasites. Usually they are temporary but they are always gross.
CamoChameleonsHuman
Chameleon Enthusiast
You're more likely to get sick from the feeders than you are your chameleon. That being said hand sanitizer is your friend.
Daesie11
Chameleon Enthusiast
I use yellow rubber cleaning gloves when I clean / feed / handle all of my feeder bugs and when I clean my cage, and i wash the gloves with hot hot water and soap and then also clean my hands after i take off the gloves lol. I hate the idea of bug gunk all over my hands. Makes me squirmy even thinking about it!
Pistachiochameleon
Established Member
Been, nauseous, major GI problems, all food isn’t staying down for months
Oh that's terrible.
I had giardia once I got when my water filter failed when I was back packing. It was awful. The Flagyl I had to take to get rid of it was bad also.
I hope your doctor can nail this thing down and get you feeling better fast.
Note: the parasites from sushi I was talking about show up as worms in your stool.
I had giardia once I got when my water filter failed when I was back packing. It was awful. The Flagyl I had to take to get rid of it was bad also.
I hope your doctor can nail this thing down and get you feeling better fast.
Note: the parasites from sushi I was talking about show up as worms in your stool.
Pistachiochameleon
Established Member
They think it’s giardia but I just don’t understand how it could last for 3+ months
Daesie11
Chameleon Enthusiast
My bf for sick after a trip to Mexico, he was sick for at least 2 months and couldnt eat or drink anything that whole time. By the time he got in to the doctors and they did tests on him they didnt show any parasites or anything. However they did start him on an anti parasitic and once he finished that he was fine. If you havent been treating it at all it can last for awhile.
I doubt this helps but I know how you feel.
It won't go away on it's own usually. have you been on meds for giardiasis very long? It seems like I was on them for a while and it was like having morning sickness at the same time after every dose. It was years ago so my memory is a bit fuzzy on the details.
It won't go away on it's own usually. have you been on meds for giardiasis very long? It seems like I was on them for a while and it was like having morning sickness at the same time after every dose. It was years ago so my memory is a bit fuzzy on the details.
I forgot to answer your question. Reptiles can have giarrdia, so can cats and dogs and rivers and streams.
I would have to look up if they are all the same kind and infectious to both reptiles and mammals.
You can get your chameleon tested with a fecal. It should be very fresh when you take it to the vet.
Giardia outside of the body is pretty easy to kill with bleach. It is treated with Flagyl or metronidazole medically.
I would have to look up if they are all the same kind and infectious to both reptiles and mammals.
You can get your chameleon tested with a fecal. It should be very fresh when you take it to the vet.
Giardia outside of the body is pretty easy to kill with bleach. It is treated with Flagyl or metronidazole medically.
Pistachiochameleon
Established Member
Did it affect his eyes?
Daesie11
Chameleon Enthusiast
In what way?
Pistachiochameleon
Established Member
Like seeing spots and floaters
Lennoncham
Chameleon Enthusiast
Any other symptoms? Is anyone else in your house sick?
Pistachiochameleon
Established Member
No just me, I traveled a lot internationally, just major GI issues, nausea, seeing stuff in my eyes and indigestion
I found this post with a list of zoonotic diseases.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/sickness-transmitted-from-your-chameleon.9200/#post-72353
and this mentioned.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/threads/sickness-transmitted-from-your-chameleon.9200/#post-72353
and this mentioned.
snitz427
Chameleon Enthusiast
Hand sanitizer will kill bacteria when you get poop on your hands, but in the end, there is still poop on your hands.
I’ve never been a fan of hand sanitizer but it sure beats nothing!
