Snake Fungal Disease Flashcards
Family
Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola
Causes
dermatitis on snakes
Morbidity and mortality
40%
Preferred hosts
rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, water snakes, garter snakes, ribbon snakes, milk snakes, worn snakes, indigo snakes, ring-necked snakes
History
first discovered: 2006 New Hampshire
in captive and free-ranging wildlife
2016 fungus identified
Life Cycle
soil saprobe found naturally in environment-> reproduces asexually by production of arthoconidia on conidiophores
feed on decaying organic matter
highly tolerant nature
Pathogenesis
Penetrates through stratum corneum of epidermis-> significant tissue damage and granulocytic inflammation
lesion begin at edge of scales-> progresses outward until snake sheds-> can reinfect new skin-> fluidfilled vesicles between new and old skin-> fragments of old skin remain on the snake
liver, lungs, heart, stomach, and colon
Incubation
30-37 days
Clinical Signs
crusted lesions of thickened skin, blisters, swelling especially around face, cloudy/opaque eyes, lumps under skin, nodules on coelomic fat pad, kidneys, liver, and air sac
Pathologic lesions
dysecdysis
-raised, firm, nodules on body
-severe granulomatous and heterophilic, necroulcerative dermatitis, cellulitis, myositis, keratitis, stomatitis, and osteomyelitis
-necrotic lesions of epidermis, dermis, and nasal turbinates
Diagnosis
histopathological examination via skin biopsy, fungal culture, real-time or quantitative PCR
Effects on population
1yr->rattlesnakes->50% decline
Massassaugas on brink of extinction
18% drop of Lake Erie water snake-> 1 yr
found originally in captive snakes
Management and Surveillance
eradication of disease implausible, rehabilitation of individual snakes, proper biosecurity measures, use of general public for surveillance
