ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A type of infectious parasite has been spotted inside invasive snail species brought to Georgia, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

A recent University of Hawaii study predicts that rat lungworm disease, which is carried by snails and slugs, will spread to higher elevations as the climate warms. -- LORRIN PANG photo ...

A single infected snail can release thousands of these tailed-stage parasites into the water every day. At this stage the parasite swims out from an infected snail, seeks out and burrows into a fish.