Why Can't Snakes Get Rabies?

In the wild, snakes may live in close proximity to any number of rabies-infected creature -- effectively they may be surrounded by the disease. Although they are vectors of many diseases, snakes are completely unable to contract or transmit rabies. The disease is restricted to mammalian hosts.

  1. What Is Rabies?

    • Rabies is a disease caused by viruses in the genus Lyssavirus in the family Rhabdoviridae. Several variants or strains of rabies exist, and most are commonly named after the original host. For example, rabies from a skunk is often known as skunk rabies. Once the virus reaches the brain, it quickly begins to affect the carrier's central nervous system. The disease kills by slowly paralyzing the victim. Two types of rabies occur: dumb and furious. Furious rabies is the most referenced and displays the vicious, mad symptoms associated with the disease. Symptoms of dumb rabies, meanwhile, include depression and lethargy.

    Rabies Susceptibility

    • Rabies can affect any warm-blooded mammal. Reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects aren't susceptible to the disease in any form, making it impossible for them to get the disease even if they consume an infected animal or are bit by one. Snakes being reptiles, they can't get rabies.

    Species Most Affected

    • Although any mammal can carry the disease, the most common vectors are coyotes, skunks, raccoons and bats. Domestic dogs and cats are also carriers of the disease, which is why rabies vaccinations are required by law. Snakes in the United States are more likely to eat small mammals in their diet such as mice, rats, rabbits and squirrels. These smaller mammals rarely contract the rabies virus.

    Snake Diseases

    • Although they can't acquire or transmit rabies, snakes can pass along several diseases to humans, be they bacterial, protozoan and viral. Snakes are potential carriers of several zoonotic diseases, including those caused by salmonella, mesocestodiasis, sparganosis, aeromonas and others. In many cases, an infected snake will show few or no symptoms. Some zoonotic diseases are transmitted simply while handling a snake or while cleaning out his cage.