Chameleon's Unseen Lung Invader: A Tale of Tiny Travelers

In Belgium, a panther chameleon faced a silent battle within its lungs. This two-year-old chameleon stopped eating and had trouble breathing. Doctors took X-rays and saw something unusual in the lungs. Tiny creatures were living there, causing problems.

The Unusual Intruders

These creatures are called Raillietiella orientalis. They are tiny crustaceans that usually live in the lungs of snakes. But this time, they chose a chameleon as their home. This is not common.

Normally, they live in snakes from Southeast Asia and Africa. But now, they are spreading to new places, like North America and Australia.

A Rare Case in Europe

In Europe, this is only the second time these creatures have been found in a chameleon. The first was in Germany. Doctors tried to remove them, but it was too late. They tried medicine, but it didn't work. The chameleon's condition didn't get better. Sadly, the chameleon had to be put to sleep.

The Spread of the Parasites

These tiny creatures are spreading because of the reptile trade. People buy and sell reptiles from different countries. This can bring new diseases and parasites to new places. It's a big problem for the health of these animals.

A Call for Caution

This story shows how important it is to be careful with the reptile trade. We need to make sure these tiny travelers don't cause more harm.