fullscreen

eFinder

eFinder

Home › Article

Rattlesnakes among most vulnerable to fungal disease and parasitic lung infection

Phys · · 819 words · By Frontiers
headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing
Ready to play
Daily briefing

What to know about Rattlesnakes among most vulnerable to fungal disease and parasitic lung infection

Researchers surveyed native snakes in the southeastern United States to analyze the prevalence of various pathogens, including fungi and parasites. The study found that rattlesnakes are particularly vulnerable to snake fungal disease and lungworm, and highlighted the impact of coinfections on snake health.

Propaganda risk 0%
Claims checked 14
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center83%
Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Rattlesnakes among most vulnerable to fungal disease and parasitic lung infection Sadie Harley Scientific Editor Robert Egan Associate Editor Snakes are threatened with extinction in many places around the globe.

Why it matters

Disease, often caused by parasites or fungi, is thought to be one of the key factors alongside habitat destruction.

Common ground

Prominent among fungal diseases is ophidiomycosis—also known as snake fungal disease—which is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo).

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Researchers surveyed native snakes in the southeastern United States to analyze the prevalence of various pathogens, including fungi and parasites. The study found that rattlesnakes are particularly vulnerable to snake fungal disease and lungworm, and highlighted the impact of coinfections on snake health.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-rattlesnakes-vulnerable-fungal-disease-parasitic.h…

analyticsAnalysis

0%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6
schedule Pending 4
info Single Source 3
help Insufficient Evidence 1
info
Claim 1: “In around 29%, 11%, and 3% of snakes, the team respectively found two, three, or four pathogens simultaneously.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions for the word 'approximately'. No factual data regarding the percentages of snakes with two, three, or four pathogens was found in the evidence.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · The meaning of APPROXIMATELY is in an approximate manner —used to indicate that a stated number, amount, or value is an approximation. How to use approximately in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/approximately
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Get a quick, free translation! APPROXIMATELY definition: 1. close to a particular number or time although not exactly that number or time: 2. close to a…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/approxim…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Define approximately. approximately synonyms, approximately pronunciation, approximately translation, English dictionary definition of approximately. adj. 1. Almost exact or correct: the approximate t…
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/approximately
check_circle
Claim 2: “Some 44% of snakes were infected with more than one pathogen.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that 44% of the snakes were infected with more than one pathogen.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In biology, a pathogen, in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism, agent or micro-organism that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogen
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 3 days ago ... In just under 20% of all snakes, no pathogens were detected. The most commonly detected pathogens were the bacterium Salmonella enterica which ...
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1127842
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago ... Almost half of the snakes studied (44%) were infected with more than one pathogen. More from this section ...
https://www.tullahomanews.com/news/national/research-warns-s…
schedule
Claim 3: “Burmese pythons and brown anoles—both invasive in the US—are known to be competent hosts of Ro.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 4: “In just under 20% of all snakes, no pathogens were detected.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While one web search result mentions 'In just under 20% of all snakes, no pathogens were detected', this appears to be a snippet from the same reporting cycle as the other claims. There are not two independent reporting organizations confirming this specific statistic.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Less or LESS may refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Less
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The less-than sign is a mathematical symbol that denotes an inequality between two values. The widely adopted form of two equal-length strokes connecting in an acute angle at the left, <, has been fou…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Less-than_sign
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Self/less is a 2015 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Tarsem Singh, produced by Ram Bergman and James D. Stern and written by Alex and David Pastor. The film tells the story of…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self/less
+ 3 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 5: “Rattlesnakes were also most likely to host Ro, an invasive, obligate crustacean parasite commonly known as snake lungworm. Fourteen out of 34 rattlesnakes were infected.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 6: “just one in 55 eastern ribbon snakes and three out of 36 ring-necked snakes did [test positive for Oo].”
SINGLE SOURCE
This specific statistic is only mentioned in the Nypost cross-reference; no other independent sources corroborate these specific numbers for ribbon and ring-necked snakes.
compare_arrows
cross reference SUPPORTS — just one in 55 eastern ribbon snakes and three out of 36 ring-necked snakes did [test positive for Oo]
https://nypost.com/2026/05/25/us-news/snakes-facing-extincti…
schedule
Claim 7: “snakes sampled in Georgia were much more likely to have Oo, but Ro was found only in Florida snakes.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 8: “Another bacterium, detected in 18% of snakes, was the antibiotic-resistant Mycoplasma spp., which can cause upper respiratory disease and has never before been reported in wild snakes in the US.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web search results confirm that antibiotic-resistant Mycoplasma spp. was detected in 18% of snakes and had not been previously reported in wild US snakes.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of antibiotics. The highest division between antibiotics is bactericidal and bacteriostatic. Bactericidals kill bacteria directly, whereas bacteriostatics prevent them from div…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antibiotics
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Quinolone antibiotics constitute a large group of broad-spectrum bacteriocidals that share a bicyclic core structure related to the substance 4-quinolone. They are used in human and veterinary medicin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinolone_antibiotic
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — A list of antibiotic resistant bacteria is provided below. These bacteria have shown antibiotic resistance (or antimicrobial resistance).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antibiotic-resistant_b…
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
Claim 9: “researchers in the southeastern US surveyed seven pathogens in wild native snakes to compare pathogen prevalence over time, space, and among snake species. The results were published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web search results confirm that researchers in the southeastern US surveyed seven pathogens in wild native snakes and published the results in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Flunixin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), analgesic, and antipyretic used in horses, cattle and pigs. It is often formulated as the meglumine salt. In the United States, it is regula…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flunixin
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Many professional designations in the United States take the form of post-nominal letters. Professional societies or educational institutes usually award certifications. Obtaining a certificate i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_designati…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pantoprazole, sold under the brand name Protonix, among others, is a medication used for the treatment of stomach ulcers, short-term treatment of erosive esophagitis due to gastroesophageal reflux dis…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantoprazole
+ 3 more evidence sources
help
Claim 10: “Twelve out of 34 rattlers tested positive for Oo”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to support or refute the claim regarding 12 out of 34 rattlers testing positive for Oo.
check_circle
Claim 11: “Prominent among fungal diseases is ophidiomycosis—also known as snake fungal disease—which is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo).”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources, including PMC and other web search results, confirm that ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Ophidiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, which has been affecting wild and captive snakes in North ...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8437724/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Oct 8, 2020 · ... disease on the North American landscape caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, poses a threat to snake population health and stability.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jul 21, 2021 · Ophidiomycosis, formerly referred to as Snake Fungal Disease (SFD), is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola.
http://www.riverlandingsanimalclinic.com/news/snake-fungal-d…
+ 1 more evidence source
check_circle
Claim 12: “The most commonly detected pathogens were the bacterium Salmonella enterica, which was found in 63% of snakes, and Hepatozoon spp., a tick-born parasite, found in 53%.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Salmonella enterica was found in 63% of snakes and Hepatozoon spp. was found in 53%.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mabel Josephine (Jo) Mackerras (née Bancroft) (7 August 1896 – 8 October 1971) was an Australian zoologist, entomologist and parasitologist. Her research and life's work contributed to entomology, ve…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabel_Josephine_Mackerras
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — For the study, which was funded by the Morris Animal Foundation, the researchers captured over 500 snakes at two wildlife refuges in South Carolina and Florida, representing 29 species. They also samp…
https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2026/05/26/rattlesnakes-vul…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The most commonly detected pathogens were the bacterium Salmonella enterica, which was found in 63% of snakes, and Hepatozoon spp., a tick-borne parasite, found in just over half (53%). Taylor Miller …
https://nypost.com/2026/05/25/us-news/snakes-facing-extincti…
+ 1 more evidence source
check_circle
Claim 13: “the researchers captured over 500 snakes at two wildlife refuges in South Carolina and Florida, representing 29 species.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources (Nypost, Irish Daily Mirror, and other web results) confirm the capture of over 500 snakes from 29 species at two wildlife refuges in South Carolina and Florida.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Florence is a city in and the county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States. It lies at the intersection of Interstates 20 and 95 and is the eastern terminus of the former. It is the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence,_South_Carolina
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — South Carolina ( KARR-ə-LY-nə) is a state in the Southeastern, South Atlantic and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM or SCGSSM) is a public, boarding high school for students in grades 11 and 12, located in Hartsville, South Carolina. The school …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina_Governor's_Scho…
+ 4 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 14: “Snake fungal disease was detected in over 30% of snakes with skin lesions, but just in 2% of snakes without.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.