Study links fungus and parasites to snake health crisis

2026년 05월 26일

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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.

Hantavirus kills nearly half of those infected in Brazil

2026년 05월 11일 AI에 의해 보고됨 AI에 의해 생성된 이미지

Brazil recorded seven cases of hantavirus infection in 2026 through April, with one death. The disease, endemic in rural areas, maintains a fatality rate of around 40%.

Himalayan pit viper found to be five distinct species

Scientists have determined that the Himalayan pit viper, long considered a single species, actually comprises five separate species, three of which are new to science. The discovery was made through genetic analysis and studies of museum specimens.

Scientists discover molecular shredder in deadly parasite

2026년 04월 03일 AI에 의해 보고됨

Researchers at the University of York have identified a protein called ESB2 that acts as a molecular shredder, enabling the African trypanosome parasite to evade the human immune system. The parasite, which causes sleeping sickness, uses ESB2 to precisely edit its genetic instructions in real time. This breakthrough solves a 40-year mystery in the parasite's biology.

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