The idea that handling animals like frogs or snails can result in developing warts is a persistent piece of folklore. This belief stems from the animals’ slimy or bumpy skin texture, which superficially resembles a wart. To separate fact from fiction, it is necessary to examine the biological mechanisms that cause these skin growths. This analysis provides a science-based explanation for the actual cause of warts and the different health concerns associated with snails.
Do Snails Transmit Warts?
The straightforward answer is that snails cannot give you warts. Warts are caused by a specific viral infection, and snails do not carry or transmit the human-specific virus responsible for these growths. Snails, as invertebrates, are not susceptible to the viruses that infect human skin cells. Therefore, the mollusk would not become a vector for the human infection, even if handled by an infected person. The myth likely originated because warts were historically a mysterious ailment, and the mollusk’s texture provided a superficial visual link.
What Really Causes Warts?
Warts are localized skin infections caused exclusively by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This DNA virus is highly species-specific, meaning it only infects humans. The virus enters the body through tiny cuts or abrasions in the skin’s outer layer, the epidermis. Once inside the skin cells, HPV stimulates an excessive and rapid growth of cells, leading to the formation of the rough, raised bumps known as warts.
Transmission occurs primarily through direct skin-to-skin contact or indirectly by touching contaminated surfaces, such as floors in communal showers or public swimming pools. HPV has over 200 different types, with specific strains (like types 1, 2, 3, and 4) responsible for most common skin warts.
Other Potential Health Concerns from Snails
While snails do not transmit warts, they can pose other health risks, mainly related to parasitic infections. The primary concern is the parasitic nematode known as Rat Lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis). This parasite uses rats as its definitive host, but snails and slugs act as intermediate hosts, carrying the larval stage.
Humans can become infected by consuming raw or undercooked mollusks, or by ingesting vegetables contaminated with larvae in the snail’s slime trail. Once consumed, the larvae may migrate to the brain, causing eosinophilic meningo-encephalitis, a serious condition characterized by inflammation of the brain’s lining. Symptoms include severe headaches, stiff neck, and neurological problems.
Another concern, particularly with freshwater snails in tropical regions, is the transmission of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease. To mitigate these risks, thoroughly wash all garden produce before eating it. Washing hands after handling any wild animal, including garden snails, is a simple hygiene measure to prevent the transmission of bacteria and parasites.