The belief that touching a toad causes warts has been passed down through generations. This common notion often stems from the visual appearance of toads, with their naturally bumpy skin. However, this idea is a misconception.
The Truth About Toads and Warts
The myth that toads cause warts in humans is false. Toads do not carry the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the sole cause of warts in people. Therefore, direct contact with a toad cannot transmit warts to humans. The bumpy texture of a toad’s skin, which might resemble warts, is a natural feature of their anatomy and serves different purposes.
Animals can develop warts, but the viruses causing these growths are specific to their species. For example, a virus causing warts in a dog will not cause warts in a human. Human warts are contagious among people, but this contagion does not extend to toads.
Understanding Human Warts
Human warts are non-cancerous growths on the skin caused by an infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Over 100 different types of HPV exist, with specific strains causing various warts on different body parts. This virus enters the skin through small cuts or abrasions, leading to an overgrowth of skin cells that form the characteristic wart.
Warts spread through direct skin-to-skin contact or indirectly via contaminated surfaces. For example, sharing towels or walking barefoot in communal areas like swimming pools can transmit the virus. After exposure to HPV, it can take anywhere from weeks to several months for a wart to become visible on the skin.
The Bumps on a Toad’s Skin
The bumps covering a toad’s skin are not warts, but specialized glands that are part of the toad’s defense system. The most prominent of these are the parotoid glands, which are large structures located behind the eyes. When a toad feels threatened, these glands can secrete a milky, foul-tasting substance known as bufotoxin. Bufotoxin deters predators, making the toad unappetizing or irritating if ingested.
While this substance can cause irritation to the eyes or mucous membranes in humans, it is generally not harmful upon skin contact and does not transmit disease. Toads also have other glands and textures on their skin that aid in moisture regulation and camouflage.