FW: PRO/AH/EDR> Snake fungal disease - USA (04): (SC) 1st report

[Maffei, Joanne]

Be sure to check out the picture of the snake lesions
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Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Snake fungal disease - USA (04): (SC) 1st report

SNAKE FUNGAL DISEASE - USA (04): (SOUTH CAROLINA) FIRST REPORT
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Date: Fri 11 Oct 2013
Source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources [edited]
<http://www.dnr.sc.gov/news/yr2013/oct10/oct10_snake.html>


A copperhead (_Agkistrodon contortrix_) that was found in Spartanburg
County has tested positive for snake fungal disease (_Ophidiomyces
ophiodiicola_). This is the 1st verified case of snake fungal disease
in South Carolina.

Scientists from the Copperhead Institute retrieved a Copperhead from
Spartanburg County that exhibited symptoms of fungal infection. The
snake subsequently died and was submitted to the United States
Geological Survey's (USGS) National Wildlife Health Center, where a
necropsy was performed. Results indicate the presence of snake fungal
disease and dehydration as the cause of death.

"The emergence of snake fungal disease is of great concern. It is
being detected more and more frequently in wild populations," said SC
Department of Natural Resources herpetologist Will Dillman. "Those
populations may not be well equipped to deal with a novel pathogen.
Its association with significant population declines in some species
is troubling."

Snake fungal disease has been identified as a potential threat to wild
snakes and has been associated with significant population declines in
some species in the Northeast. Some species of snakes seem to be more
susceptible to the pathogen. The USGS reports that increased numbers
of snakes from the eastern and mid-western United States are showing
signs of fungal dermatitis and are being submitted to the National
Wildlife Health Center.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
<pro...@promedmail.org>

[Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging disease in certain
populations of wild snakes in the eastern and midwestern United
States. In recent years, cases of this fungal infection have been
increasing and this report is evidence that it is spreading south.

The disease is apparently caused by the fungus _Ophidiomyces
ophiodiicola_ (formerly classified in the genus _Chrysosporium_).

A picture of the lesions observed in snakes with SFD can be seen at
<http://mongabay-images.s3.amazonaws.com/13/0906snake2.jpg>.
A picture of a copperhead can be accessed at
<http://www.dnr.sc.gov/assets/flash_photos/copperhead.jpg>.

Research should address the investigation of the factors that
determine an apparent increase in the incidence and the spread of this
disease in natural snake populations.

Portions of this comment were extracted from
<http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/wildlife_health_bulletins/WHB_2013-02_Snake_Fungal_Disease.pdf>.

The state of South Carolina can be located on the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at
<http://healthmap.org/r/8RDO>. Spartanburg County can be seen on the
map at <http://geology.com/county-map/south-carolina.shtml>. -
Mod.PMB]

[see also:
Snake fungal disease - USA (03) 20130913.1942160
Snake fungal disease - USA (02): (TN) 20130617.1777532
Snake fungal disease - USA 20130501.1683967]
.................................................sb/pmb/mj/jw
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