Reptiles and HIV...

[Cflaguy]

Yes I said HIV.
What brought this up? A friend of 35 years is visiting this weekend and this scenario occurred long before I became a member of CS Forums.
He is HIV positive. One afternoon while working on his car he found a small corn in the firewall. He caught it and brought to me. The snake was a little #@*&^%. He was a biter. After a few misses my buddy informs me he bit him.
My first thought was do I want this snake to bite me?
My understanding is-
Snakes are cold blooded and HIV can't survive.
There needs to be a certain amount of fluid exchange.
Friend didn't bleed until 30 seconds after the bite.
AIDS/HIV is a primate disease, not reptile.

The snake was given away after two years.
No fear here. My buddy was more worried than I. But just wondering if there is something I don't know.

Here he is-

 

[Hypancistrus]

I am no HIV expert, but I believe your analysis seems solid. It is a primate disease, not even a MAMMAL disease, but primates, and doesn't survive well outside the human body. Case in point... I am near certain that they have shown that HIV does not generally survive in a mosquitos body... it's just not set up right to host the virus. I have also heard it dies quite quickly when removed from the body and exposed to air.

If you or your friend are REALLY worried... call a doc and ask 'em.

 

[tricksterpup]

The snake was given away after two years.
No fear here. My buddy was more worried than I. But just wondering if there is something I don't know.

Yes this snake is plotting revenge and seeking you out for selling him.

 

[Blue Apple Herps]

There is no way the snake could be carrying HIV, but smart of you to think about it to be on the safe side.

 

[JoannaD]

Interesting issue. HIV would not survive in the snake so any risk to you would have occurred only if the snake had bitten you immediately after biting your friend. Even had that been the case your risk would be minimal. It has been shown that, even in hospitals with needlestick injuries, the risk of transmission is small. The larger the needle and the more HIV in the infected person the larger the risk of transmission. Given the needle in this case would be the cornsnake's teeth it is pretty small.

I would have been more worried about your friend getting sick from the cornsnake!
Joanna

 

[Cflaguy]

I didn't sell him...

Yes this snake is plotting revenge and seeking you out for selling him.

he went to a breeding program. He is one male to three females. So he probably praises me. :grin01:
Lauren you're right. Having some training in first aid it is my understanding HIV dies in about 20 minutes when exposed. Bleach will kill it outside of a host.