HomeHoliday Horror: Iguana Stole My Cake! And Left Behind A Nasty Surprise

Holiday Horror: Iguana Stole My Cake! And Left Behind A Nasty Surprise

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Beware the Consequences of Coming Between an Iguana and His Cake – A Warning from a Toddler’s Experience

A 3-year-old girl contracted a tuberculosis-like illness caused by bacteria found in fish, following a bite from an iguana while on vacation in Costa Rica.

The doctors who treated her will present the case at this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 15-18 April.

The infection was caused by an unusual strain of Mycobacterium marinum.

According to the authors, this is the first documented case of M. marinum infection resulting from an iguana bite. M. marinum is a non-tuberculous mycobacterium commonly found in fish that can cause tuberculosis-like symptoms in humans who come into contact with contaminated fresh or salt water through open wounds.

While the toddler was enjoying cake on the beach, an iguana suddenly appeared, snatched the cake, and bit her on the back of her left hand. She was immediately taken to a local clinic where she was diagnosed with a single, minor wound on the back of her middle finger’s metacarpal bone.

The wound was disinfected, and she received five days of amoxicillin antibiotics as a precaution against salmonella infection (which is common following reptile bites). The wound healed quickly without any complications.

After five months, the parents noticed a small bump on the back of their child’s left hand, which grew gradually over the next three months, causing redness and mild pain.

Iguana Cake Thief Leaves Toddler with Rare Infection: A Cautionary Tale
Iguana Cake Thief Leaves Toddler with Rare Infection: A Cautionary Tale

The toddler was taken to Stanford Children’s Health Hospital in California, USA, where an ultrasound was performed, revealing a mass that appeared to be a ganglion cyst filled with fluid. However, the location and symptoms were not consistent with this diagnosis.

Iguana Bite Leads to Rare Bacterial Infection in Toddler: A Cautionary Tale
Iguana Bite Leads to Rare Bacterial Infection in Toddler: A Cautionary Tale

During the surgical removal of the 2-centimeter thick-walled mass, the orthopedic surgeon observed a discharge of pus from the wound, indicating an infection.

Upon histological examination, the affected tissue showed extensive necrotizing granulomatous inflammation, indicating tissue death. Cultures of the wound produced a pure growth of M. marinum. As this bacterium is resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics like amoxicillin, the girl was treated with rifampin and clarithromycin and responded positively to the therapy.

Unusual Mycobacterium Marinum Infection Following Iguana Bite: A Toddler's Story
Unusual Mycobacterium Marinum Infection Following Iguana Bite: A Toddler’s Story
Iguana Bite Warning: Toddler Infected with Rare Bacterial Illness
Iguana Bite Warning: Toddler Infected with Rare Bacterial Illness

Although infections caused by dog or cat bites are well-documented, there are few reported cases of infections following iguana bites. Previous case reports have identified Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus aureus as the primary culprits, while Salmonella enterica is also a possibility since 75-90% of captive and wild reptiles (including snakes, turtles, and iguanas) carry these bacteria.

Numerous studies have shown that pet reptiles can host non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) due to the prevalence of these bacteria in both fresh and salt water.

“M. marinum prefers lower temperatures (30◦C) for optimal growth,” explains lead author Dr. Jordan Math, “and it’s highly likely that the cold-blooded iguana, with body temperatures ranging from 22-37◦C, may sustain these microbes as reservoirs.”

The researcher further adds, “The bite resulted in colonisation by a bacterium rarely found in humans, and demonstrates that iguanas may be carriers of harmful bacteria capable of producing severe infections. This may help inform health care professionals of less commonly known bacterial infections following unusual zoonotic exposures.”

Image Credit: Unsplash

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