Ticks on pythons may cause anemia, even paralysis among the snakes

Even pythons can be infected with ticks and these may cause several illnesses in the reptiles.

According to Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras", these could cause anemia and even paralysis.

With the use of a special microscope, Born to be Wild host Dr. Nielsen Donato showed how the ticks looked like and removed them one by one from under a python's scales.

The python was caught at a residential area in Bohol and is under the supervision of a licensed reptile caretaker.

"This is the unique world of parasites in other animals at isa isa namin tinanggal 'yung mga nakasingit dun sa mga kaliskis ng sawa na ito," Donato said.

Left untreated, the snakes can unintentionally spread the ticks to other animals.

"Itong mga garapatang ito, galing ito sa wild na mga ahas, kung meron sinurrender sa inyo na mga ahas na ganito dapat iquaquarantine niyo muna dahil sila yung magdadala ng garapata, meron rin panganib ito sa mga alaga niyo," said Donato. —NB, GMA News