Cats and dogs are quietly spreading invasive WORMS through Europe

"Experts from the French National Museum of Natural History have found evidence that invasive flatworms are spreading through Europe by attaching themselves to unsuspecting pets. Reaching lengths of up to 7.8-inches (20cm), these flatworms secrete a sticky mucus, allowing them to stick to fur. Grisly photos released by the researchers show worms collected from cats and dogs, with tufts of hair still attatched."

"'Although this transport is rare and concerns only a small portion of the flatworm population, the large number of dogs and cats and the enormous number of kilometres travelled by these domestic animals (our estimate of 18 billion km/year) strongly suggest that transport by pets plays a role in the success of invasion by this species,' the researchers explained in their study, published in PeerJ."

"Britain is home to approximately 21 species of land flatworms. However, only four of these are native - with the others 17 originating elsewhere. Until now, it was thought that these creatures primarily spread through the transport of plants. However, in their new study, the researchers suspected there was a different form of transport at play. 'One question remained unanswered: how do these very slow-moving animals manage to colonize neighboring gardens?'"

Evidence indicates invasive land flatworms can attach to cats' and dogs' fur and be transported long distances. Individuals can reach up to 7.8 inches (20 cm) and produce sticky mucus that allows them to cling to pet hair. Photographic records show worms collected with tufts of hair still attached. The flatworms are not dangerous to pets but can damage native insect populations and soil. Although pet-mediated transport is rare per individual, the vast number of domestic animals and their cumulative travel (estimated at 18 billion km/year) make pets a meaningful pathway for invasion, revealed through 12 years of citizen science reports.

Read at Mail Online