Ultraviolet Fluorescence as a Field-Applicable Screening Tool for Lesions Consistent with Ophidiomycosis in Lake Erie Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum)

Vivirito, Kathryn; Haynes, Ellen; Adamovicz, Laura; Wright, Allison; Durante, Kennymac; Stanford, Kristin I.; Scott, Emma C.; Allender, Matthew C.

doi:10.7589/jwd-d-20-00013

Cited by 5 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…The intensity of the signal correlates with the amount of fungus at each site (Turner et. al, 2014;Vivirito et al, 2021). To fluorescence is detected at the cellular level, as shown with confocal imaging of natural transmission as seen in other fungi including oceanic fungi (Sung-Jan et al, 2009;Breyer et al, 2021) (Figure 3, panel E).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…The intensity of the signal correlates with the amount of fungus at each site (Turner et. al, 2014; Vivirito et al, 2021). To further examine this emission by loading O. ophidiicola cultures into the wells of unstained agarose gel.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Long-wave ultraviolet (UV, 365nm) light can detect fungal skin infections and is utilized as a field detection screen tool (Turner et al, 2014; Breyer et al, 2021; Vivirito et al, 2021). ,Upon UV exposure, O. ophidiicola positive snakes emit a UV fluorescence, as shown with the infected Western ribbon snake from Figure 2 (Figure 3 panels A&B).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Long-wave ultraviolet (UV, 365nm) light can detect fungal skin infections and is utilized as a field detection screen tool (Turner et al, 2014;Breyer et al, 2021;Vivirito et al, 2021).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Snake Fungal Disease Caused by the Fungal Pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola in Texas

Lizarraga

Hart²,

Nolen³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (O.o.), widely known as the primary cause of snake fungal disease (SFD) has been detected in Texas’s naïve snakes. Our team set out to begin to characterize O. ophidiicola’s spread in east Texas. From July 2019 until October 2021, we sampled 176 snakes across east Texas and detected 27 positives cases (qPCR confirmed 27/176). From a ribbon snake with clear clinical display, we isolated and cultured what we believe to be the Texas isolate of O. ophidiicola. With over 1/10 snakes that may be infected in East Texas, gives credence to the onset of SFD in Texas.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Long-wave ultraviolet (UV, 365nm) light can detect fungal skin infections and is utilized as a field detection screen tool (Turner et al, 2014;Breyer et al, 2021;Vivirito et al, 2021).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Snake Fungal Disease Caused by the Fungal Pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola in Texas

Lizarraga

Hart²,

Nolen³

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Ultraviolet fluorescence has proved to be effective as a non-invasive and field-applicable screening tool for Ophidiomycosis (Vivirito et al 2021), as it has in the past for other emerging fungal diseases, such as white-nose syndrome in bats (Turner et al 2014). This technique highlights skin lesions in snakes exposed to UV light (365 nm) and, although it seems effective only on snakes with apparent ophidiomycosis, offers the advantage of being fast, reliable, affordable, and useful in the preliminary phase of the screening process, in particular, to identify individuals and skin areas for further diagnostic testing (Vivirito et al 2021).…”

Section: Detection In the Fieldmentioning

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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Environmental temperature influences ophidiomycosis progression and survival in experimentally challenged prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis)

Kendall,

Wright,

Adamovicz

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Ophidiomycosis is a prevalent and intermittently pervasive disease of snakes globally caused by the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Ophidiomyces ophidiicola. Host response has yet to be fully explored, including the role of temperature in disease progression and hematologic changes. This study enrolled twelve adult prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) in an experimental challenge with O. ophidiicola at two temperatures, 26°C (n = 6) and 20°C (n = 6). Each temperature cohort included four inoculated and two control snakes. Assessments involving physical exams, lesion swabbing, and hematology were performed weekly. Differences were observed between inoculated and control snakes in survival, behavior, clinical signs, ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence, hematologic response, and histologic lesions. All inoculated snakes held at 20°C were euthanized prior to study end date due to severity of clinical signs while only one inoculated animal in the 26°C trial met this outcome. In both groups, qPCR positive detection preceded clinical signs with regards to days post inoculation (dpi). However, the earliest appearance of gross lesions occurred later in the 20°C snakes (20 dpi) than the 26°C snakes (13 dpi). Relative leukocytosis was observed in all inoculated snakes and driven by heterophilia in the 20°C snakes, and azurophilia in the 26°C group. Histologically, 20°C snakes had more severe lesions, a lack of appropriate inflammatory response, and unencumbered fungal proliferation and invasion. In contrast, 26°C snakes had marked granulomatous inflammation with encapsulation of fungi and less invasion and dissemination. The results of this study identified that O. ophidiicola-infected rattlesnakes exposed to lower temperatures have decreased survival and more robust hematologic change, though minimal and ineffective inflammatory response at site of infection. Ophidiomycosis is a complex disease with host, pathogen, and environmental factors influencing disease presentation, progression, and ultimately, survival. This study highlighted the importance of temperature as an element impacting the host response to O. ophidiicola.

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Ultraviolet Fluorescence as a Field-Applicable Screening Tool for Lesions Consistent with Ophidiomycosis in Lake Erie Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum)

Cited by 5 publications

References 11 publications

Snake Fungal Disease Caused by the Fungal Pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola in Texas

Snake Fungal Disease Caused by the Fungal Pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola in Texas

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

Environmental temperature influences ophidiomycosis progression and survival in experimentally challenged prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis)

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