Florida’s native snake populations are declining—and one of many causes probably stems from the state’s invasive python scourge. According to researchers, a 3-inch parasite, often called “snake lungworm” (initially from Asia) is presently inflicting extreme sickness and demise in native snakes resembling southern black racers, japanese coachwhips, and japanese indigo snakes.
“Around 2012 is when we started seeing it in native snakes in South Florida,” Jenna Palmisano, a PhD scholar on the University of Central Florida, advised FOX13. “It’s likely that it was spilled over with the establishment of Burmese pythons in South Florida, but it’s also likely other invasive species that can serve as hosts have brought them in as well.”
Palmisano is the founding father of SLAM, or the Snake Lungworm Alliance & Monitoring, a venture that paperwork and research the overseas parasite. According to the organization, the snake lungworm has unfold to not less than 27 counties within the Sunshine State, together with Palm Beach County, the place it was just lately detected in March 2024.
“On top of all the other threats our native snakes face (disease, invasive species, habitat loss … poaching) this emerging infectious disease may push, and has pushed some snake communities to extreme decline,” Palmisano advised the Sun-Sentinel. “I dissected a black racer last week that had 107 adult lungworms in its lungs.”
Lungworms are handed to snakes from smaller invertebrates resembling lizards and toads. Once the parasite reaches its host, it bores by means of the intestines to succeed in the lungs, the place it molts, lays eggs, and feeds on the snakes’ blood.
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While it’s unlikely that the lungworms may influence human well being, researchers are wanting into whether or not they can infect the lungs of various kinds of animals. So far, the parasitic species has not been the main focus of a lot scientific analysis in Asia or right here within the United States. But that’s rapidly altering, particularly because the lungworms proceed to unfold by means of Florida and certain quickly into Georgia and past.
