Human warts are extremely contagious, but they have absolutely nothing to do with toad pustules. Warts are benign skin tumours caused by a virus that infects the skin, called human papillomavirus. This virus is introduced into the smallest skin lesions and can, depending on the strain, cause about fifty different types of warts that can appear on the feet and hands as well as on the face, elbows or genitals. As the name suggests, human papillomavirus is not transmissible to animals and therefore has no relation to toads.

The "warts" they wear on their backs are very different. They are actually pustules, that is, protrusions formed by subcutaneous granular glands, the parotoid glands. While these growths are certainly not contagious and are not likely to cover our hands after handling a toad, they are potentially dangerous. They can secrete an often creamy venom that serves to protect the toad from its predators; It acts as a neurotoxin when it enters the attacker's body. If this venom affects a wound or mucous membrane, it can be harmful to humans. This can be the case if you rub your eyes or put your fingers to your mouth after touching a toad. There is therefore no danger in taking a toad in your hands if you have no open wounds on their surface and if you wash them thoroughly afterwards before touching anything else. Only certain species of snakes are immune to this venom, which has another advantage for the toad. It does not have an immune system as efficient as that of mammals: its venom plays an antiseptic and antibiotic role, making it possible to fight against infections of all kinds.


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