Research to warn snake mushrooms can be a global threat

The new study shows that a type of solid fungal disease that can be fatal for some snakes in the US and in Europe can be found on a global scale. The study published in Science Advances shows that the fungal disease caused by Ophidiomyces ophidiodiicola can infect many species of snake regardless of relatives, body characteristics or living environment.

Research to warn snake mushrooms can be a global threat Picture 1

The authors of this study, including researchers from the American Museum of Natural History, the US Geological Survey, and the University of Maryland, College Park, caution that all snakes are may have this disease.

Snake fungus disease has been reported in 23 wild snake species in the United States, mostly rat snakes, milk snakes, gartersnakes, and viperid in the east of the country. Recently, it was also discovered in three species commonly found in Europe. The disease primarily affects the skin of snakes, forming fast-spreading lesions that can cover a large part of the body. Although skin peeling can resolve most cases, because of this disease the snake may die from an infection. In addition, changes in behavior that snakes suffered while fighting the disease, such as spending a lot of time rubbing their skin, put them at high risk of death due to weakness and hunger.

Jeffrey Lorch, a microbiologist at the US Wildlife Center (USGS), said: "Some of the most dangerous wildlife diseases ever recorded, such as white nose syndrome in bats and amphibians in the amphibians, which are caused by fungal pathogens, these diseases have had tremendous effects, they affect many species, and now this scenario of solid fungal disease may be similar self ' .