My iguana's jaw abscess produced a culture of Neisseria meningitidis,
a common cause of human meningitis.  Is this really possible or a lab
error?  Can I or my other iguanas get this disease from the new
iguana?

Hello Snakelady,


    According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human
Services, humans are the only known reservoir for Neisseria
meningitidis.
 
?Humans are the only known reservoir for N. meningitis.  The organism
is spread primarily through intimate contact with the nasopharyngeal
secretions of an infected person (i.e., through kissing, mouth to
mouth resuscitation, sharing eating utensils, sharing smoking
materials, sharing beverages).  N. meningitis is extremely sensitive
to drying and cooling and rarely survives outside the body for more
than a few minutes.  If the organism is coughed onto a desk and
remains there for a minute or longer, it will dry out and die.?
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/DHHS/CDCS/meningitis.htm

This site has a difference of opinion, probably because N.
meningitidis is not nearly as  common  as salmonella infections in
iguanas.

Reptile-Associated Zoonoses
There are several other zoonotic organisms that can be transmitted
from reptiles to their keepers (and their keepers' families) that can
cause the same types of symptoms as a Salmonella infection:
Aeromonas
Campylobacter
Citrobacter
Coccidia
Clostridium
Corynebacterium
Edwardsiela tarda
E. coli	Enterobacter
Enterobacter
Klebsiella
Leptospira
Mycobacterium
Neisseria
Pasturella
Pentostomiasis	Plesiomonas
Proteus
Serratia
Staphlococcus
Strepococcus
Yersinia
http://www.anapsid.org/salmsymptoms.html


?Initially, the infectious agent colonizes or establishes a localized
infection in the host. This may be in the form of colonization or
infection of the skin, nasopharynx, respiratory tract,
gastrointestinal tract, or genitourinary tract. Most meningeal
pathogens are transmitted through the respiratory route, as
exemplified by the nasopharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitides
(meningococcus) and nasopharyngeal colonization with S pneumoniae
(pneumococcus).?
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2613.htm


?Meningitis is a medical term meaning "inflammation of the meninges"
which are membranes enclosing the human brain and spinal column. 
Neisseria meningitis is one of many bacteria that cause the disease. 
Viruses can cause meningitis as well.  The bacteria causes illness
sporadically, either as isolated cases or epidemics.  There are nine
types of N. meningitis.  Types A, B, and C cause more than 90 percent
of meningoccal disease globally.

 ?Reptiles
Reptiles - including lizards, snakes, and turtles - place children at risk for:
?	Salmonellosis: Reptiles, such as lizards, snakes, and turtles, shed
Salmonella in their feces. Touching the reptile's skin, cage, and
other contaminated surfaces can lead to infection in people.
Salmonellosis causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea,
vomiting, and fever. Young children are at risk for more serious
illness, including dehydration, meningitis, and sepsis.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/pet_infections.html



?The CDC report recommends that reptiles or amphibians should not be
kept in homes with children younger than 5, or with anyone who is
immunocompromised for any reason. Likewise, children under 5 and
immunocompromised people should avoid contact (direct or indirect)
with reptiles or amphibians, and child care centers should not house
these animals. Knowing the risks, these recommendations should be
taken seriously.?
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptiles/a/reptsalmonella.htm


?The CDC report states that Salmonella infection can result in serious
illness including sepsis and meningitis and can particularly affect
infants and elderly people.?
http://www.reptilerescueca.org/ReptilesMedia.html


?Zoonoses are defined by the World Health Organisation as "Diseases
and infections which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate
animals and man". A zoonotic agent may be a bacterium, virus, fungus,
parasite, or other communicable agent. Zoonoses cover a broad range of
diseases with very different clinical and epidemiological features and
control measures, but they are grouped together because successful
control requires joint veterinary and medical efforts.?
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/nzge/index.htm


??a little common sense can minimize the chances of your pet making
you ill. Many animals that carry zoonotic diseases often pass bacteria
through their feces and other bodily fluids. A common example is
salmonella, which can be transmitted by iguanas.
     "It is important to assume that a reptile or other exotic animal
is continually shedding whatever zoonotic disease they may carry, if
you come in contact with their feces or fluids and do not wash your
hands and accidentally ingest this waste, you may become infected,"
Johnson said.
      Pet store owners and breeders can help prevent the spread of
zoonotic disease by practicing good management techniques, Johnson
says.?
http://rev.tamu.edu/stories/03/062703-3.html

  If you practice common sense till your iguana is cured, you will
greatly reduce your chances of contracting the organism yourself. Use
gloves when handling and touching anything the iguana comes in contact
with. Don?t have your face some close to your pet. Wash your hands
after removing your latex/vinyl gloves. If you think you may have been
exposed, call your doctor. S/he may want you to take antibiotics
prophylactically.


Culturing your other iguanas would indeed be a good idea. Was your new
iguana treated with the appropriate antibiotic before being placed
with the other iguanas?

There are tests called ?Rapid Tests? that are not as accurate as a
real culture and sensitivity. You can request a real culture from your
vet. Also, Neisseria species of bacteria have a distinctive shape, and
a Gram stained smear, using a swab of the infected area, examined by a
trained eye, can presumptively diagnose the disease rapidly.

Here is an illustration:
http://textbookofbacteriology.net/nfN.meningitidis.jpeg

More information
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1997/797_rept.html

http://www.ahc.umn.edu/rar/MNAALAS/Iguana.html#Bacteria


I hope this answers your question. If not, please request an Answer
Clarification., I will be happy to assist you further, before you rate
this answer.

Good Luck, Crabcakes



Search Terms
============

Meningococcal disease + zoonoses + reptiles
Zoonoses + n.meningitidis + reptiles
iguana + neisseria meningitidis

Superb answer, right at the level of my knowledge of veterinary
medicine and reptile keeping.  You found a test much less intrusive
than the spinal tap recommended on the other sites.  To answer your
question, yes, he received antibiotic shots post-surgery and before
coming home, but they didn't give the correct number of them.   
You're my hero!

Thank you for the 5 stars and the generous tip! Both are appreciated.

 Let me clarifiy a bit about the LP (Spinal tap). A reptile (And a
human) can *carry* the bacteria, and NOT have meningitis. The LP would
be used to diagnose meningitis. The jaw abcess may or may not have led
to meningitis. The culture I spoke of would be to see if the jaw
abcess contained N. meningitidis. The culture (C&S) would only detect
the organism in the jaw. An LP is the only way to see if there are
organisms in the spinal fluid. I am not a veterinarian, but if it were
*me* or my pet, I would treat as if it WERE meningitis, and forgo the
LP.

There are blood tests to detect N. menigitidis antibodies, but the
turn-around time would be 1-3 days. Your vet may recommend watchful
waiting of your other iguanas.

I'm glad your iguana is on the road to recovery, and I'm sure you will
keep a watchful eye on the others!

All the best, Crabcakes

The iguana shows no signs of illness.  My concern is that he is a
carrier.  Your reference from Melissa Kaplan's site listed that genus
among those that are zoonotic.  It might be a total coincidence that
I've had an ear infection and dizziness since two days after I brought
Gizmo home (about 3 weeks).  It hasn't responded to three antibiotics.
 UC Davis and Stanford are thinking this is a different species in
that genus, perhaps one previously unknown.  It may be producing my
symptoms because if I had the real enchilada, I'd have been in the
hospital long ago.  I just spoke with about the only UCD exotics vet
that is speaking to me now, and she said a spinal tap on an iguana is
impossible.  This afternoon, I will be delivering Gizmo to Davis for
boarding until a definitive diagnosis and prognosis are made.  As for
the jaw abscess causing meningitis, their hypothesis is that it is of
human origin.  You or I watch ESPN, eat a peach, and break off a piece
that's been in our mouth (carrier location) and toss it to the pet
iguana.  Last Thursday the microbiologists ordered a blood test, as
you mentioned.  The vet with whom I just spoke said she also swabbed
his mouth and mixed that with the blood sample.  It was negative for
Neisseria meningitidis.   Thanks so very much for your interest and
insight!
        Susan L. Solomon
        retired Ph.D., quantitative methods in business, and
         20-year rescuer and rehabilitator of wild
         and pet snakes and lizards
         SSue@post.harvard.edu