Florida's Burmese pythons are carrying three previously unknown RNA viruses

Burmese pythons in Florida's Everglades are carrying three previously unknown RNA viruses, raising questions about whether viruses harboured by the invasive snakes could eventually affect native wildlife. A study published in the Journal of Virology examined 40 Burmese pythons captured in and around the site of a 2020 disease outbreak among eastern mudsnakes. Researchers did not find the ferlavirus linked to that outbreak in the pythons, but instead identified three previously undescribed viruses: an alphavirus, a hepacivirus and an arterivirus. They also detected a previously characterised serpentovirus. While the findings expand knowledge of viruses carried by invasive reptiles, researchers say further work is needed to determine whether any of these viruses can infect native snakes.Florida’s Burmese pythons found carrying new RNA virusesThe research began after an outbreak among eastern mudsnakes in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem during November and December 2020. Some affected snakes were found writhing on riverbanks with frothy oral discharge, while examinations revealed necrotising enteritis and pulmonary oedema. Scientists isolated a reptilian ferlavirus from the sick muds...