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Invasive Pythons Carry Unknown RNA Viruses
5 Oct
Summary
- Three new RNA viruses found in Florida pythons.
- Study examined pythons near an eastern mudsnake outbreak.
- Researchers to investigate cross-species virus transmission.
Invasive Burmese pythons in Florida's Everglades are hosts to three novel RNA viruses, according to a recent study. Researchers investigating a 2020 disease outbreak among eastern mudsnakes collected samples from 40 pythons. While the ferlavirus linked to the mudsnake outbreak was not detected in the pythons, three previously undescribed viruses were identified: an alphavirus, a hepacivirus, and an arterivirus.
These newly found viruses include Eden alphavirus (EDEV), detected in 30% of the pythons, and Burmese python hepacivirus (BuPyHV), found in 65% of the snakes. BuPyHV is the first hepacivirus identified in a snake species. Additionally, Burmese python arterivirus (BuPyAV) was found in 10% of the pythons, marking the first reptilian arterivirus reported in North America. Many pythons carried multiple viruses, with 57.5% hosting two or three.
Published on February 24, 2026, in the Journal of Virology, the findings expand the understanding of viruses carried by invasive reptiles. However, scientists emphasize that these discoveries do not confirm the spread of these viruses to native snake populations. Future research will focus on transmission capabilities and potential disease impacts on native wildlife, as pythons share habitats with many native species.
