The larvae then mature and may break out of the cysts to once again migrate through the human body. Eventually, cysts can become hardened with calcium deposits and the larvae will die. The larvae migrating through the human body can cause varying degrees of inflammation and reaction. Surgery may be necessary to remove larval cysts. Medical treatment of humans with larval cysts is not usually effective.
Mites are external parasites that can infest a variety of reptiles.
While most are quite species specific, and can only complete their life cycle on their intended host, they are capable of biting humans. Ticks are another group of insects that can be found on reptiles. The ticks themselves are not usually dangerous to humans, although they can bite humans and family pets. But ticks can carry several different diseases that can infect humans, such as relapsing fever, western equine encephalitis virus, among others. This information is not meant to scare herp owners, but to ensure that pet owners understand that it is very important to teach all family members that practicing scrupulous hygiene is very important when it comes to owning herps.