Deadly fungal disease poses global threat to snakes

A potentially deadly fungal disease poses a significant threat to snakes all over the world, new research suggests.

The pathogen, has been found in 23 species of wild snake in the US and three in Europe. The fungus causes lesions on the snake's body, leading to infection and death.

This study argues that all snakes could become or are already infected.

The report has been published in the journal Science Advances, according to BBC Thursday.

Fungal afflictions have had devastating impacts on a number of different species in recent years. Chytrid fungus has reduced frog populations all around the world, while white nose syndrome has killed millions of bats in the US.

Now researchers have evidence of what's termed snake fungal disease (SFD) in a number of populations in Europe and the US. Found predominantly in rat snakes, milk snakes, garter snakes, and vipers in eastern parts of the US, it has also been detected in Europe, including in the UK.

The disease forms lesions on the snake's skin, and can spread quickly and cover a large part of the body.

"They start getting these blisters and then all kinds of secondary infections from it, it can kill snakes quite rapidly actually, I've seen them go down in a matter of a few days," lead author Dr Frank Burbrink, from the American Museum of Natural History, told BBC News.

"The demographic of the disease and how it's really working across all these species and populations are unknown, but we do know that it can take populations down, it can have 100% mortality in some."

While moulting can help the animal, many die from infections. The fungus also causes changes in the behaviour of snakes, causing them to spend more time basking in the sun as their skin moults, putting them at greater risk of starvation and attack from predators.

To work out the possible extent of the threat, the scientists built a model based on the evolutionary history, ecology, and physical traits of known infected species.