Ophidiomycosis prevalence in Georgia’s Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) populations

Chandler, Houston C.; Allender, Matthew C.; Stegenga, Benjamin S.; Haynes, Ellen; Ospina, Emilie; Stevenson, Dirk J.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218351

Cited by 28 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…These results support the hypothesis that ophidiomycosis predisposition is based more on factors such as species and age class, rather than seasonality or geography. In comparison, ophidiomycosis category was found to associated with month, but not sex or age class, in eastern indigo snakes 15 . This may indicate that temporal factors are important on an individual species basis, since different species have different activity seasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…A total of 962 swabs were collected from 786 individual snake encounters, including 107 eastern indigo snake encounters for which the results have been previously published 15 . Fifteen PIT-tagged eastern indigo snakes were sampled multiple times while recaptures of other species were unknown due to lack of permanent identification.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The overall prevalence of skin lesions in this study, excluding eastern indigo snakes, was 27.5% and the prevalence of animals testing positive for O. ophiodiicola DNA was 13.3%. In eastern indigo snakes alone, 83.2% of snakes had skin lesions and 43.9% of snakes tested qPCR positive 15 . Previous state-wide studies found a 12.7% prevalence of skin lesions in eastern massasauga rattlesnakes in Michigan 16 , a 51.7% prevalence of lesions in snakes in Kentucky 18 , and a 30.0% prevalence of qPCR positive snakes in Tennessee 22 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such broad examinations of disease distribution are crucial for informing management decisions that may mitigate the effects of ophidiomycosis on species of conservation concern and all snake populations worldwide 18 . Previous published reports of the disease in wild-caught snakes in the state of Georgia are rare, but include a black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus) with swelling around the right eye 19 , a mud snake (Farancia abacura) with head swelling and dysecdysis 20 , and populations of eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi), which are a species of conservation concern 15 . While these case reports indicate that the disease is present in wild snakes in the state, they do not provide information about the overall distribution and prevalence of the disease in wild populations.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Ophidiomycosis surveillance of snakes in Georgia, USA reveals new host species and taxonomic associations with disease

Haynes

Chandler²,

Stegenga³

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola and threatens snake health worldwide. It has been documented throughout the eastern United States and severe cases have recently been reported in Georgia, USA. To evaluate disease distribution and prevalence in this state, 786 free-ranging snakes were examined for skin lesions consistent with ophidiomycosis and swabbed to detect O. ophiodiicola DNA using qPCR. Sampled snakes represented 34 species and 4 families; 27.5% had skin lesions, 13.3% were positive for O. ophiodiicola DNA, and 77.8% of the qPCR positive individuals had skin lesions. This is the first report of O. ophiodiicola in five of the 22 species that were qPCR positive. Multinomial logistic regression modeling indicated that Drymarchon couperi had a higher relative risk of apparent ophidiomycosis (lesions present and qPCR positive), and the best models predicting qPCR result and ophidiomycosis category included individual factors and excluded temporal and spatial factors. Phylogeny-based bipartite network analysis showed that Nerodia erythrogaster, Nerodia taxispilota, and D. couperi had the highest prevalence of apparent ophidiomycosis; this category was more prevalent in the subfamily Colubrinae and less prevalent in Natricinae. These results provide important information about ophidiomycosis epidemiology, which has implications for snake conservation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ophidiomycosis surveillance of snakes in Georgia, USA reveals new host species and taxonomic associations with disease

Haynes

Chandler²,

Stegenga³

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

Self Cite

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“…It has a high pathogenicity, with a mortality rate of ≥ 90% in some snake species such as massasaugas in the eastern United States 12 . There are many questions raised about this disease, in particular, regarding the effects of the disease on wild snakes and captive snakes, the presence of infection vectors, and the change in prevalence over time 13 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First report of emerging snake fungal disease caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola from Asia in imported captive snakes in Japan

Takami¹,

Une

Mitsui

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Snake fungal disease (SFD) (Ophidiomycosis) is an emerging infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola which has been affecting wild and captive snakes in North America, Europe, and Australia. We report the cases of 12 imported captive colubrid snakes in Japan suspected of having SFD. Pathological and microbiological examinations were performed, and the results confirmed the diagnosis of SFD in two snakes, which indicated that the remaining sympatrically raised snakes also had SFD since they exhibited similar lesions. The oral administration of ciprofloxacin in addition to itraconazole had a significant treatment effect. This is the first report of SFD in Asia caused by O. ophiodiicola. To prevent the expansion of SFD in the natural environment in Japan, there is a need to evaluate the SFD carrier status of imported snakes, the pathogenicity of the infection in native snakes, and the prevalence and distribution of SFD in wild and captive snakes. Measures also must be taken to prevent endemicity globally.

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Leveraging preserved specimens of Nerodia to infer the spatiotemporal dynamics of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola via quantitative polymerase chain reaction

Harding

Moretta‐Urdiales

Nordmeyer

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo) is a fungal pathogen and the causative agent of ophidiomycosis that has affected multiple snake taxa across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Ophidiomycosis has often been referred to as an emerging infectious disease (EID); however, its status as an EID has recently come under debate. Oo infections have been confirmed in wild snake populations in Texas; however, it is unknown if the pathogen is novel (i.e., invasive) or endemic to the state. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted surveys for Oo among preserved Nerodia deposited at three university museums in Texas. First, we visually assessed snakes for signs of infection (SOI), and if SOI were present, we sampled the affected area. We then used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to diagnose the presence of Oo DNA on areas with SOI and used these data to evaluate spatiotemporal patterns of Oo prevalence. We also tested for significant spatial clusters of Oo infenction using a Bernoulli probability model as implemented in the program SatScan. We found that the proportion of snakes exhibiting SOI was constant over time while the prevalence of Oo DNA among those SOI increased across space and time. Within these data, we detected an incidence pattern consistent with an introduction and then spread. We detected six spatial clusters of Oo infection, although only one was significant. Our results support the hypothesis that Oo is an emerging, novel pathogen to Texas snakes. These data narrow the knowledge gap regarding the history of Oo infections in Texas and establish a historical record of confirmed Oo detections in several counties across the state. Thus, our results will guide future research to those areas with evidence of past Oo infections but lacking confirmation in contemporary hosts.

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Ophidiomycosis prevalence in Georgia’s Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) populations

Cited by 28 publications

References 46 publications

Ophidiomycosis surveillance of snakes in Georgia, USA reveals new host species and taxonomic associations with disease

Ophidiomycosis surveillance of snakes in Georgia, USA reveals new host species and taxonomic associations with disease

First report of emerging snake fungal disease caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola from Asia in imported captive snakes in Japan

Leveraging preserved specimens of Nerodia to infer the spatiotemporal dynamics of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola via quantitative polymerase chain reaction

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