Salmonella

Salmon + Nutella = …….wait no

Salmonella is a Gram-negative bacteria that can cause signs and symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and other bad stuff. It works by attaching to the epithelial cells in the small intestine and making such cells engulf them so that it can multiply. After it is released by exocytosis, macrophages come to consume it which causes inflammation. It is the disease that is the reason your mom tells you to not eat raw cookie dough. Salmonella is famously associated with raw eggs and uncooked chicken. According to the CDC, there was actually a recent outbreak of Salmonella coming from uncooked chicken products, such as pet food and live chickens. What is so unusual about this though is that it was not Salmonella typhimurium, which is the strain known to infect humans, but Salmonella infantis. This outbreak came out of literally no where, the CDC could not pin down the chicken supplier, and it infected 92 people in 29 different states. A major disadvantage of this disease is that to treat it, you have to let it run its course. Antibiotics are used only if it gets to the tissues and bloodstream. So this is a warning to all….MAKE SURE YOU COOK YOUR CHICKEN PROPERLY.

Avoid raw eggs and I’m fine, right?

WRONG! In another outbreak article, Salmonella has been reported to be transmitted by …..drum roll please……..HEDGEHOGS!

It is known within the science community that organisms other than chickens can transmit the disease, such as turtles, but hedgehogs was not previously on the list. According to a recent media statement by the CDC, eleven people, mostly children, from eight different states had contracted Salmonella from their pet hedgehogs. The transmission of the disease is carried out through feces, despite the fact that hedgehogs are supposed to be relatively clean animals. The CDC even recommended not kissing or holding the hedgehogs to close to one’s face in order to prevent the fecal contamination from reaching an easy portal of entry. Why have a pet if you can’t cuddle it, right?

So for all of the parents out there wanting to get their kids an easy to take care of, semi-exotic pet, don’t choose a hedgehog. Just go for the cat or dog. Simple as that.