Reptile-associated salmonellosis--selected states, 1994-1995.

During 1994-1995, health departments in 13 states reported to CDC persons infected with unusual Salmonella serotypes in which the patients had direct or indirect contact with reptiles (i.e., lizards, snakes, or turtles). In many of those cases, the same serotype of Salmonella was isolated from patients and from reptiles with which they had had contact or a common contact. For some cases, infection resulted in invasive illness, such as sepsis and meningitis. This report summarizes clinical and epidemiologic information for six of these cases.