Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · Apr 30
Trichobilharzia franki is confirmed in Lake Alqueva snails for first time in Portugal
Updated
Updated · SciTechDaily · Apr 30

Trichobilharzia franki is confirmed in Lake Alqueva snails for first time in Portugal

3 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · Apr 30
  • Researchers found four infected Radix auricularia snails among 7,125 collected at 25 shoreline sites, all at Campinho in September 2024.
  • The avian schistosome can cause swimmer’s itch in humans; infection reached 13.8% at the affected site, though basin-wide prevalence among Radix snails was 0.6%.
  • Genetic links to strains from Austria and Hungary suggest spread via migratory waterfowl, prompting calls for monitoring recreational waters and raising awareness among clinicians and the public.
A skin parasite's infection rate is 20 times higher at one beach. What makes this spot in Lake Alqueva so dangerous?
Can a tiny parasite in a Portuguese lake pioneer a new global strategy for fighting emerging zoonotic diseases?
As migratory birds spread a new parasite, is this a sign of Europe's next climate-driven health crisis?