Poisonous geckos: the validity of an ancient Egyptian belief

The ancient Egyptians disliked geckos, which belong to the lizard species, and believed them to be a danger to human health. Unjustified as this may seem with respect to these small reptiles, biological and behavioural studies of the gecko indicate that fear of these animals is understandable. As they carry salmonella, they are, indeed, in a general sense 'poisonous' and capable of causing illness, sometimes even death. (OEB)