UT student testing snakes to study viruses

WALLAND, Tenn. (AP) — A University of Tennessee student is catching and testing water snakes for viruses that have killed a large amount of frogs and salamanders around the world.

Stephen Nelson, who is a senior majoring in wildlife and fisheries management, has spent the last two years testing northern water snakes for ranavirus, which is actually a group of viruses. The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/OMZux8) reports his project is the first to test all North American snakes for ranavirus.