Science
A mysterious snake disease that causes strange symptoms and causes pythons to tie a knot may be caused by a rodent virus, researchers say.
A deadly disease called inclusive disease (IBD) affects captive pythons and boa constrictors that begin to behave very strangely, such as looking at one point right in front of them in over a long period of time. Other symptoms may include a condition similar to intoxication, and snakes begin to twist their bodies into a knot.
Snakes twist so they can't unravel later, according to Professor Michael Buchmeier from the University of California, Irvine.
Inclusive disease is so named due to the fact that inclusions (inclusions) of foreign material form in the cells of affected animals. It is known that this disease is highly contagious, and its cause has long been a mystery to researchers.
A team of scientists led by Professor Buchmeyer studied IBD outbreaks among snakes at the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco, California. Scientists have found signs of an unusual virus in DNA samples from affected boa constrictors and pythons. Tests have shown that the virus belongs to the Arenavirus family, which commonly infects rodents. However, this virus turned out to be a completely new specimen, not previously known.
This virus cannot be attributed to either of the two arenavirus categories. Scientists were amazed that they were able to discover a completely new type of virus. Moreover, it was also a surprise to find a virus of this family in snakes. Arenaviruses are also dangerous for humans.