DISSEMINATED<i>OPHIDIOMYCES OPHIODIICOLA</i>INFECTION IN A CAPTIVE EASTERN MASSASAUGA (<i>SISTRURUS CATENATUS CATENATUS</i>)

Robertson, Jessica; Chinnadurai, Sathya K.; Woodburn, Daniel B.; Adkesson, Michael J.; Landolfi, Jennifer A.

doi:10.1638/2014-0222.1

Cited by 19 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…32 In reports of disseminated O. ophiodiicola granulomas with dermal lesions, mucous membranes, such as the cloaca or conjunctiva, were often affected. 13,36,42 Discrepancies between reported prevalence of visceral lesions may be due to a combination of differences in susceptibility among species and perhaps a lack of thorough postmortem examination in cases focusing on skin lesions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ophidiomycosis in Red Cornsnakes (Pantherophis guttatus): Potential Roles of Brumation and Temperature on Pathogenesis and Transmission

et al. 2020

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Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. As ophidiomycosis is difficult to study in free-ranging snakes, a reliable experimental model is needed to investigate transmission, pathogenesis, morbidity, and mortality, and the effects of brumation and temperature on disease development. Our objective was to develop such a model via subcutaneous injection of O. ophiodiicola conidia in red cornsnakes ( Pantherophis guttatus). The model was used to evaluate transmission and the effects of brumation and temperature in co-housed inoculated and noninoculated snakes. All 23 inoculated snakes developed lesions consistent with ophidiomycosis, including heterophilic and granulomatous dermatitis, cellulitis, and myositis, and embolic fungal granulomas throughout the liver and the coelomic connective tissue in 21/23 (91%). In the inoculated snakes, 21% of skin swabs, 37% of exuvia, and all liver samples tested positive by qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) for O. ophiodiicola. A post brumation skin swab from 1/12 noninoculated snakes that brumated in contact with inoculated snakes tested positive by qPCR, suggesting possible contact transmission. That snake had microscopic skin lesions consistent with ophidiomycosis, but no visible fungal elements. Of the 23 inoculated snakes, 20 (87%) died over the 70-day experiment, with ophidiomycosis considered the primary cause of death; 12 (52%) of the inoculated snakes died during brumation. Overall, this experimental model of ophidiomycosis reproduced skin lesions analogous to those of many natural cases, and internal lesions similar to the most severe natural cases. The study provides tentative experimental evidence for horizontal transmission in brumation, and offers a tool for future studies of this widespread snake disease.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ophidiomycosis in Red Cornsnakes (Pantherophis guttatus): Potential Roles of Brumation and Temperature on Pathogenesis and Transmission

et al. 2020

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“…ramspotti ) have not been previously reported in the literature. While ophidiomycosis is associated almost exclusively, to date, with skin lesions, infections may also be associated with systemic disease [ 51 , 52 ]. Skin lesions were not uncommon in this study, and somewhat surprisingly, there were several animals with skin lesions in which O .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ophidiomycosis, an emerging fungal disease of snakes: Targeted surveillance on military lands and detection in the western US and Puerto Rico

et al. 2020

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Wildlife disease surveillance and pathogen detection are fundamental for conservation, population sustainability, and public health. Detection of pathogens in snakes is often overlooked despite their essential roles as both predators and prey within their communities. Ophidiomycosis (formerly referred to as Snake Fungal Disease, SFD), an emergent disease on the North American landscape caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola , poses a threat to snake population health and stability. We tested 657 individual snakes representing 58 species in 31 states from 56 military bases in the continental US and Puerto Rico for O . ophiodiicola . Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola DNA was detected in samples from 113 snakes for a prevalence of 17.2% (95% CI: 14.4–20.3%), representing 25 species from 19 states/territories, including the first reports of the pathogen in snakes in Idaho, Oklahoma, and Puerto Rico. Most animals were ophidiomycosis negative (n = 462), with Ophidiomyces detected by qPCR (n = 64), possible ophidiomycosis (n = 82), and apparent ophidiomycosis (n = 49) occurring less frequently. Adults had 2.38 times greater odds than juveniles of being diagnosed with ophidiomycosis. Snakes from Georgia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia all had greater odds of ophidiomycosis diagnosis, while snakes from Idaho were less likely to be diagnosed with ophidiomycosis. The results of this survey indicate that this pathogen is endemic in the eastern US and identified new sites that could represent emergence or improved detection of endemic sites. The direct mortality of snakes with ophidiomycosis is unknown from this study, but the presence of numerous individuals with clinical disease warrants further investigation and possible conservation action.

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“…This pattern suggests a possible hematogenous spread within the dermis (McKenzie et al 2020b). Some subcutaneous fungal granulomas can reach the coelomic cavity, the coelomic fat pad, and the kidneys, by spreading through connective tissues and epaxial skeletal muscles (Robertson et al 2016;Steeil et al 2018a, b).…”

Section: Pathogenesis Of Ophidiomycosismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Non-tegumentary granuloma formation associated with naturally occurring or experimental infections can involve several structures (disseminated ophidiomycosis), including air sacs, bronchi, lungs, trachea, esophagus, stomach, mesentery, gingiva, salivary glands, eyes, coelomic fat, ovaries, kidneys, liver, and spleen (Allender et al 2011;Dolinski et al 2014;McKenzie et al 2020b;Robertson et al 2016;Steeil et al 2018a;Vissiennon et al 1999). In the latter cases, the presence of fungal elements within the granulomas was not always reported.…”

Section: Pathogenesis Of Ophidiomycosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Ophidiomyces ophidiicola detection and infection: a global review on a potential threat to the world’s snake populations

Nicola

Coppari²,

Notomista³

et al. 2022

Eur J Wildl Res

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Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo) is one of the most relevant fungal pathogens for snakes. It is the etiological agent of ophidiomycosis, an emerging disease causing dysecdysis, skin abnormalities, crusting cutaneous lesions, and ulcerations. Despite this major tegumentary “tropism”, Oo infection can be systemic and it is capable of inducing visceral lesions. Moreover, ophidiomycosis may lead to abnormalities of reproductive physiology, hunting behavior, and thermoregulation, thus increasing the risks of sublethal effects and predation on affected snakes. Oo seems horizontally transmitted and can induce postnatal mortality. This article reviews published data on Oo detection and infection in all snake species in countries around the world and categorizes these data using new classification parameters. The presence of this fungus has been recorded in 11 states (considering the USA as a whole); however, in four states, the mycosis has only been reported in snakes held in captivity. Detection and/or infection of Oo has been ascertained in 62 snake species, divided into nine families. The taxa have been categorized with diagnostic criteria in order to report, for each species, the highest rank of categorization resulting from all cases. Therefore, 20 species have been included within the class “Ophidiomycosis and Oo shedder”, 11 within “Ophidiomycosis”, 16 in “Apparent ophidiomycosis”, and 15 within “Ophidiomyces ophidiicola present”. We also discuss the significance and limits of case classifications and Oo’s impact on wild populations, and we suggest methods for preliminary surveillance. Standardized methods, interdisciplinary studies, and cooperation between various research institutions may facilitate further Oo screening studies, elucidate the unclear aspects of the disease, and protect ophidiofauna from this emerging threat at the global level.

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DISSEMINATEDOPHIDIOMYCES OPHIODIICOLAINFECTION IN A CAPTIVE EASTERN MASSASAUGA (SISTRURUS CATENATUS CATENATUS)

Cited by 19 publications

References 5 publications

Ophidiomycosis in Red Cornsnakes (Pantherophis guttatus): Potential Roles of Brumation and Temperature on Pathogenesis and Transmission

Ophidiomycosis in Red Cornsnakes (Pantherophis guttatus): Potential Roles of Brumation and Temperature on Pathogenesis and Transmission

Ophidiomycosis, an emerging fungal disease of snakes: Targeted surveillance on military lands and detection in the western US and Puerto Rico

Ophidiomyces ophidiicola detection and infection: a global review on a potential threat to the world’s snake populations

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