Mystery Snails are a type of Apple Snail and Apple snails are the largest freshwater snails on the planet! They can host parasites and diseases that are known to infect humans. Like other snail species, this species may serve as a vector for various parasites and diseases. Species: Large, olive colored snails. chinensis is also the host for several helminth parasites that affect humans in native Asia. Chinese mystery snail can be found buried in soft muddy or sandy substrates in freshwater lakes, streams and rivers. Chinese and Japanese mystery snails compete with native snails for food and habitat. In addition to competing with native snails for food and habitat, the mystery snails can also spread diseases and parasites to other wildlife. Furthermore, the parasites that did successfully infect CMS were often found encased in the shells of the snails in a non-viable state.” Threat to Humans From GISD (2016): “B. Chinese and Japanese Mystery Snails . A lot of information is unsure and on certain topics, like control, it was very hard to find any information. than those in co-occurring snail species. Chinese mystery snails occur in a number of Maine waterbodies, but the full distribution of this snail in Maine is unknown. Lake Stewards of Maine (LSM) currently manages a statewide database on reported sightings of C. chinensis malleatus. Their shells can obstruct intake pipe screens and restrict water flow. mystery snail and some sources have considered C. chinensis and B. japonica to simply be different phenotypes of the same species in North America.2 The Chinese mystery snail is edible and sold in Asian food markets but in Korea this snail is a known host of a human intestinal parasite.2 As of January 1, 2016, the possession, Origin: Chinese mystery snail (CMS) is native to Asia. DOCTOR'S VIEWS ARCHIVE. The historic range of the banded mystery snail (BMS) is the southeastern U.S., primarily in the Mississippi River system up to Illinois. Identification: Species of the genus Cipangopaludina can be identified by their relatively large globose shells and concentrically marked opercula (Burch 1980). • Chinese mystery snails are considered edible and could be sold in food markets despite it being an intermediate host to multiple parasites and diseases, which could impact human health. Maya: The Chinese mystery snail is a species people don’t know a lot about. It was brought to California in 1892 as a food source, and found in Massachusetts in 1915 — likely an aquarium release. In Asia, Chinese mystery snails have been known to transmit intestinal flukes to humans but this has not been documented in the United States. to boats and trailers and be found inside Due to its large size and ability to protect itself from predators, the Chinese mystery snail can out-compete native snails for food and shelter. BEIJING (September 10, 1998) -- According to the Chinese Red Cross, there are outbreaks of a number of diseases including snail fever in the vast flooded area along the Yangtze River. One of the defining characteristics of an Apple snail is the breathing siphon. The Mystery Snail belongs to a group of creatures known as gastropods. Although the poorly studied Chinese mystery snail does not appear to negatively affect native snail populations in Wisconsin, this species has been found to host parasites in other regions of North America and has the potential to alter the microbial portion of lake food webs with its … The Chinese mystery snail can change water 2 US IMPACTS Chinese mystery snail populations can reach large densities up to 40 snails per square meter1. These species are native to Southeast Asia, Japan and Eastern Russia. These small animals have traveled across the world from China and Japan to the United States. The word gastropod literally translates into the term “stomach-foot”.