scholarly journals Snake fungal disease: an emerging threat to wild snakes

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1709) ◽  
pp. 20150457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Lorch ◽  
Susan Knowles ◽  
Julia S. Lankton ◽  
Kathy Michell ◽  
Jaime L. Edwards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Broad Host Range ◽  
Skin Infections ◽  
Health Food ◽  
Current State ◽  
New Information ◽  
Eastern Usa ◽  
Snake Fungal Disease

Since 2006, there has been a marked increase in the number of reports of severe and often fatal fungal skin infections in wild snakes in the eastern USA. The emerging condition, referred to as snake fungal disease (SFD), was initially documented in rattlesnakes, where the infections were believed to pose a risk to the viability of affected populations. The disease is caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola , a fungus recently split from a complex of fungi long referred to as the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV). Here we review the current state of knowledge about O. ophiodiicola and SFD. In addition, we provide original findings which demonstrate that O. ophiodiicola is widely distributed in eastern North America, has a broad host range, is the predominant cause of fungal skin infections in wild snakes and often causes mild infections in snakes emerging from hibernation. This new information, together with what is already available in the scientific literature, advances our knowledge of the cause, pathogenesis and ecology of SFD. However, additional research is necessary to elucidate the factors driving the emergence of this disease and develop strategies to mitigate its impacts. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Tackling emerging fungal threats to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience’.

scholarly journals Experimental Infection of Snakes with Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola Causes Pathological Changes That Typify Snake Fungal Disease

mBio ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Lorch ◽  
Julia Lankton ◽  
Katrien Werner ◽  
Elizabeth A. Falendysz ◽  
Kevin McCurley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Ecology ◽  
Host Response ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Infected Group ◽  
Laboratory Model ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Skin Infections ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Fungal Virulence ◽  
Snake Fungal Disease

ABSTRACT   Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging skin infection of wild snakes in eastern North America. The fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola is frequently associated with the skin lesions that are characteristic of SFD, but a causal relationship between the fungus and the disease has not been established. We experimentally infected captive-bred corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) in the laboratory with pure cultures of O. ophiodiicola. All snakes in the infected group (n = 8) developed gross and microscopic lesions identical to those observed in wild snakes with SFD; snakes in the control group (n = 7) did not develop skin infections. Furthermore, the same strain of O. ophiodiicola used to inoculate snakes was recovered from lesions of all animals in the infected group, but no fungi were isolated from individuals in the control group. Monitoring progression of lesions throughout the experiment captured a range of presentations of SFD that have been described in wild snakes. The host response to the infection included marked recruitment of granulocytes to sites of fungal invasion, increased frequency of molting, and abnormal behaviors, such as anorexia and resting in conspicuous areas of enclosures. While these responses may help snakes to fight infection, they could also impact host fitness and may contribute to mortality in wild snakes with chronic O. ophiodiicola infection. This work provides a basis for understanding the pathogenicity of O. ophiodiicola and the ecology of SFD by using a model system that incorporates a host species that is easy to procure and maintain in the laboratory. IMPORTANCE Skin infections in snakes, referred to as snake fungal disease (SFD), have been reported with increasing frequency in wild snakes in the eastern United States. While most of these infections are associated with the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, there has been no conclusive evidence to implicate this fungus as a primary pathogen. Furthermore, it is not understood why the infections affect different host populations differently. Our experiment demonstrates that O. ophiodiicola is the causative agent of SFD and can elicit pathological changes that likely impact fitness of wild snakes. This information, and the laboratory model we describe, will be essential in addressing unresolved questions regarding disease ecology and outcomes of O. ophiodiicola infection and helping to conserve snake populations threatened by the disease. The SFD model of infection also offers utility for exploring larger concepts related to comparative fungal virulence, host response, and host-pathogen evolution.

scholarly journals Minimizing fungal disease deaths will allow the UNAIDS target of reducing annual AIDS deaths below 500 000 by 2020 to be realized

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1709) ◽  
pp. 20150468 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Denning
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Agents ◽  
Opportunistic Infections ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Health Food ◽  
Public Health Agencies

Deaths from AIDS (1 500 000 in 2013) have been falling more slowly than anticipated with improved access to antiretroviral therapy. Opportunistic infections account for most AIDS-related mortality, with a median age of death in the mid-30s. About 360 000 (24%) of AIDS deaths are attributed to tuberculosis. Fungal infections deaths in AIDS were estimated at more than 700 000 deaths (47%) annually. Rapid diagnostic tools and antifungal agents are available for these diseases and would likely have a major impact in reducing deaths. Scenarios for reduction of avoidable deaths were constructed based on published outcomes of the real-life impact of diagnostics and generic antifungal drugs to 2020. Annual deaths could fall for cryptococcal disease by 70 000, Pneumocystis pneumonia by 162 500, disseminated histoplasmosis by 48 000 and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis by 33 500, with approximately 60% coverage of diagnostics and antifungal agents; a total of >1 000 000 lives saved over 5 years. If factored in with the 90–90–90 campaign rollout and its effect, AIDS deaths could fall to 426 000 annually by 2020, with further reductions possible with increased coverage. Action could and should be taken by donors, national and international public health agencies, NGOs and governments to achieve the UNAIDS mortality reduction target, by scaling up capability to detect and treat fungal disease in AIDS. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Tackling emerging fungal threats to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience’.

scholarly journals Drivers of variation in species impacts for a multi-host fungal disease of bats

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1709) ◽  
pp. 20150456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate E. Langwig ◽  
Winifred F. Frick ◽  
Joseph R. Hoyt ◽  
Katy L. Parise ◽  
Kevin P. Drees ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Health Food ◽  
White Nose Syndrome ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Fungal Load ◽  
Disease Impact ◽  
Multiple Species

Disease can play an important role in structuring species communities because the effects of disease vary among hosts; some species are driven towards extinction, while others suffer relatively little impact. Why disease impacts vary among host species remains poorly understood for most multi-host pathogens, and factors allowing less-susceptible species to persist could be useful in conserving highly affected species. White-nose syndrome (WNS), an emerging fungal disease of bats, has decimated some species while sympatric and closely related species have experienced little effect. We analysed data on infection prevalence, fungal loads and environmental factors to determine how variation in infection among sympatric host species influenced the severity of WNS population impacts. Intense transmission resulted in almost uniformly high prevalence in all species. By contrast, fungal loads varied over 3 orders of magnitude among species, and explained 98% of the variation among species in disease impacts. Fungal loads increased with hibernating roosting temperatures, with bats roosting at warmer temperatures having higher fungal loads and suffering greater WNS impacts. We also found evidence of a threshold fungal load, above which the probability of mortality may increase sharply, and this threshold was similar for multiple species. This study demonstrates how differences in behavioural traits among species—in this case microclimate preferences—that may have been previously adaptive can be deleterious after the introduction of a new pathogen. Management to reduce pathogen loads rather than exposure may be an effective way of reducing disease impact and preventing species extinctions. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Tackling emerging fungal threats to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience’.

scholarly journals Snake fungal disease caused by Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in a free-ranging mud snake (Farancia abacura)

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 709-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa A. Last ◽  
Heather Fenton ◽  
Jessica Gonyor-McGuire ◽  
Matthew Moore ◽  
Michael J. Yabsley
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Snake Fungal Disease ◽  
Free Ranging

Testing the febrile response of snakes inoculated with Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, the causative agent of snake fungal disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 103065
Author(s):  
Cody Davis Godwin ◽  
Donald M. Walker ◽  
Alexander S. Romer ◽  
Alejandro Grajal-Puche ◽  
Matthew Grisnik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Causative Agent ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Febrile Response ◽  
Snake Fungal Disease

Systematic Literature Review of the Natural Environment of the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, from a Conservation Perspective

Conservation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-284
Author(s):  
Vladyslav Zakharovskyi ◽  
Károly Németh
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
The North ◽  
Current State ◽  
Geological Evolution ◽  
Silver Mineralization

This research presents a literature review of published scientific literature on the Coromandel Peninsula, a well-known region of the northern part of the North Island of New Zealand. It contains many biological, geological, and historical features and is well known for beautiful scenery, resulting from a volcanic rock-dominated terrestrial environment influenced by oceanic factors at the coast. All these factors have combined to make the Coromandel a popular tourism destination for New Zealanders and offshore visitors. In researching the current state of knowledge of the region, we searched three scientific databases to define the main ways of studying the region. The results demonstrated a high interest in biological and environmental factors, reflected in the type and scale of conservation measures applied to flora and fauna of the region. Additionally, specificity of geological evolution was a highly examined subject, in the context of hydrothermal alteration as related to gold and silver mineralization resulting in extensive exploration and mining. Meanwhile, indigenous cultural aspects of the land were not recognizable as expected within Western scientific literature, even though the region contains sites recognized as some of the earliest Māori habitations. Therefore, we suggest future studies to expand our understanding of scientific, cultural, and social aspects of the region as applied to the field of conservation in the region.

scholarly journals Epidemic Growth Rates and Host Movement Patterns Shape Management Performance for Pathogen Spillover at The Wildlife-livestock Interface

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kezia R. Manlove ◽  
Laura M. Sampson ◽  
Benny Borremans ◽  
E. Frances Cassirer ◽  
Ryan S. Miller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Health Food ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Management Performance ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Host Movement

ABSTRACTManaging pathogen spillover at the wildlife-livestock interface is a key step toward improving global animal health, food security, and wildlife conservation. However, predicting the effectiveness of management actions across host-pathogen systems with different life histories is an on-going challenge since data on intervention effectiveness are expensive to collect and results are system-specific. We developed a simulation model to explore how the efficacies of different management strategies vary according to host movement patterns and epidemic growth rates. The model suggested that fast-growing, fast-moving epidemics like avian influenza were best-managed with actions like biosecurity or containment, which limited and localized overall spillover risk. For fast-growing, slower-moving diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, depopulation or prophylactic vaccination were competitive management options. Many actions performed competitively when epidemics grew slowly and host movements were limited, and how management efficacy related to epidemic growth rate or host movement propensity depended on what objective was used to evaluate management performance. This framework may be a useful step in advancing how we classify and prioritise responses to novel pathogen spillover threats, and evaluate current management actions for pathogens emerging at the wildlife-livestock interface.

scholarly journals Revisiting Ophidiomycosis (Snake Fungal Disease) After a Decade of Targeted Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina M. Davy ◽  
Leonard Shirose ◽  
Doug Campbell ◽  
Rachel Dillon ◽  
Christina McKenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Molecular Testing ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Snake Fungal Disease ◽  
Free Ranging

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are typically characterized by novelty (recent detection) and by increasing incidence, distribution, and/or pathogenicity. Ophidiomycosis, also called snake fungal disease, is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (formerly “ophiodiicola”). Ophidiomycosis has been characterized as an EID and as a potential threat to populations of Nearctic snakes, sparking over a decade of targeted research. However, the severity of this threat is unclear. We reviewed the available literature to quantify incidence and effects of ophidiomycosis in Nearctic snakes, and to evaluate whether the evidence supports the ongoing characterization of ophidiomycosis as an EID. Data from Canada remain scarce, so we supplemented the literature review with surveys for O. ophidiicola in the Canadian Great Lakes region. Peer-reviewed reports of clinical signs consistent with ophidiomycosis in free-ranging, Nearctic snakes date back to at least 1998, and retrospective molecular testing of samples extend the earliest confirmed record to 1986. Diagnostic criteria varied among publications (n = 33), confounding quantitative comparisons. Ophidiomycosis was diagnosed or suspected in 36/121 captive snakes and was fatal in over half of cases (66.7%). This result may implicate captivity-related stress as a risk factor for mortality from ophidiomycosis, but could also reflect reporting bias (i.e., infections are more likely to be detected in captive snakes, and severe cases are more likely to be reported). In contrast, ophidiomycosis was diagnosed or suspected in 441/2,384 free-ranging snakes, with mortality observed in 43 (9.8 %). Ophidiomycosis was only speculatively linked to population declines, and we found no evidence that the prevalence of the pathogen or disease increased over the past decade of targeted research. Supplemental surveys and molecular (qPCR) testing in Ontario, Canada detected O. ophidiicola on 76 of 657 free-ranging snakes sampled across ~136,000 km2. The pathogen was detected at most sites despite limited and haphazard sampling. No large-scale mortality was observed. Current evidence supports previous suggestions that the pathogen is a widespread, previously unrecognized endemic, rather than a novel pathogen. Ophidiomycosis may not pose an imminent threat to Nearctic snakes, but further research should investigate potential sublethal effects of ophidiomycosis such as altered reproductive success that could impact population growth, and explore whether shifting environmental conditions may alter host susceptibility.

scholarly journals Features of the investigation of hooliganism committed by football fans

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (69) ◽  
pp. 513-529
Author(s):  
Viktor Boiarov ◽  
Mikhail Larkin ◽  
Oleh Kyrychenko ◽  
Sergey Penkov ◽  
Oleh Kruhlov
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Information Approach ◽  
Youth Groups ◽  
Current State ◽  
Football Fans

The article is devoted to the analysis of some features of the investigation of football hooliganism. The current state and trends of football hooliganism are considered (including during the COVID-19 pandemic). The main problems faced by the investigation authorities during the detection and investigation of football hooliganism have been identified. In the process of working on the article, the scientific literature on informal youth groups, the fight against extremism, the investigation of group crimes of football fans was analyzed. The purpose of the study is to identify and study the features of the investigation of hooliganism committed by football fans. The object of research is the peculiarities of the investigation of hooliganism committed by football fans. During the writing of the article, the following methods were used: observation, analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, extrapolation, modeling, and information approach. As a result of the conducted research, the modern tendencies of football hooliganism are defined. Emphasis is placed on the peculiarities of the transformation of football fans. The principal problems of detection and investigation of football hooliganism are outlined, recommendations for prevention and counteraction to crimes committed by football fans are developed.

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