A new study of wild snakes in the southeastern United States has uncovered widespread infections from a fungal disease and lung parasites. Researchers found that many snakes carry multiple pathogens, with pygmy rattlesnakes facing particularly high risks.
Researchers sampled more than 500 snakes across 29 species from wildlife refuges in South Carolina and Florida, along with additional sites in the region. The study, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, examined seven pathogens and found that fewer than 20 percent of snakes showed no signs of infection. Salmonella enterica appeared in 63 percent of the animals, while a tick-borne parasite was detected in 53 percent.
