Zoonotic Parasites in Reptiles, with Particular Emphasis on Potential Zoonoses in Australian Reptiles

Zoonotic infections are a major public health issue, but reptiles are generally overlooked as sources of zoonoses compared with other classes of vertebrate animals. This paper provides an overview of the biology and ecologies of zoonotic parasites, including helminths, arthropods and protozoans from reptiles.

Reptile zoonoses include parasites from a wide range of taxa, and a variety of different infection routes. In particular, Australia’s diverse reptile fauna may be harbouring a range of parasites with varying degrees of zoonotic potential, but the basic biology and ecology of many of those parasites are poorly known.

While some reptile parasites are foodborne zoonoses, many others may be acquired from exposure to infective stages which have been shed into the environment, especially among captive reptiles. Within Australia, consumption of reptile meat is rare in comparison to other parts of the world, but the increasing popularity of reptiles as pets means that captive pets and the reptile trade may become a key source of emerging zoonoses in the future.