Posted on 07/15/2015 9:59:11 AM PDT by nickcarraway
It might be time to salt the earth. Researchers are claiming Giant African land snails are spreading from South Florida and are carrying way more dangerous parasites then previously thought.
A recent U.S. Geological Survey published in Journal of Wildlife Diseases, says previous research on Giant African land snails grossly underestimated how many of them are carrying rat lungworm, a parasitic worm that burrows into humans and can cause meningitis.
USGS biologist and lead researcher Deborah Iwanowicz discovered the parasite increase by taking multiple tissue samples from the snails—as opposed to previous studies led by lazy scientists who only took one sample, from one part of the snail's body.
“Collecting just one additional sample per snail increased the number of snails testing positive for the rat lungworm by 13 percent," said Iwanowicz to the Washington Post.
Native to East Africa, the giant snails were naively introduced in South Florida as pets in 1966. According to the Washington Post, they were nearly eradicated back in the '70s, but are now making a resurgence in the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale areas.
Compared to Florida's long list of invasive species, the Giant African land snail is one of the most resilient. It can switch sexes and drop over 400 eggs a year. It can decimate crops by eating over 500 varieties of plants. And, it can lay dormant for a couple months if it has to.
Experts expect the snails to eventually move to other suitable states outside of Florida like Alabama, Virginia, California, Maryland, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Georgia and Kentucky.
All hail our soon-to-be snail overlords.
Snailnado!
I thought this was going to be about Mooshelle.
Call the French.
They’re edible and make a decent fritter. Cook thoroughly.
1966?....Like Wow even Before the Summer of Love
Look at that S Car Go!
I thought so too. The mentally-challenged, big eared Kenyan snail I was referring to is more disgusting than the picture.
Will they be granted in state tuition?
Paging Dr. Doolittle! !
FedGuv blows it again—This time the USGS.
I’m a bit shocked that these can survive the multitude of rodents, possums, armadillos, snakes, and seagulls that generally eat everything that moves, especially if it moves slow.
Is it just me...or is everything out of Africa deadly?
Ebola
Giant Snails
Killer African Bees
The Occupant....
Sanctuary,Sanctuary!
What, you think these snails came here, because they were the bassists from Strawberry Alarm Clock?
people were like diggig ...way like strange kool stuff.../
Hurricanes
Fire ants
Disease-Riddled, Giant African Land Snails Are Invading From South Florida
i have to be careful when I read something like this headline. I truly thought this was about our current government.
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