Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA,
J Zoo Wildl Med. 2019 Sep;50(3):672-677. doi: 10.1638/2018-0198.
Ophidiomycosis, historically referred to as snake fungal disease (SFD), caused by , is a significant disease of snakes characterized by crusty scales, pustules, subcutaneous nodules, and death. Ophidiomycosis is a proposed threat to sustainability of free-ranging snake populations throughout the United States and Europe, but the clinical progression during periods of reproductive activity (gravid females, neonates) is unknown. In spring 2012, five apparently healthy gravid eastern massasauga () rattlesnakes from Clinton County, Illinois, were brought into captivity to give birth and be returned into the population. While in captivity, one adult female and 21 neonates died. Five individuals were subsequently confirmed positive for by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In 2016, a gravid timber rattlesnake () with ophidiomycosis from Jackson County, Illinois, gave birth in captivity to 13 neonates. Skin swabs were taken from all neonates immediately after birth and confirmed negative for by using qPCR. The neonates remained housed with the positive female for 10 days before all animals were reswabbed and released back into the wild. One neonate was positive at time of release. The initial negative result followed by a positive result several days postpartum suggests that the neonate was infected by the female after direct contact. Both case series represent natural infection of neonates after parturition and highlight the importance of this disease in a demographically important age class.
蛇霉菌病，历史上称为蛇真菌病（SFD），由 引起，是一种以结痂鳞片、脓疱、皮下结节和死亡为特征的蛇类重大疾病。蛇霉菌病被认为是美国和欧洲自由放养蛇种群可持续性的威胁，但在繁殖活动期间（怀孕的雌性、新生儿）的临床进展尚不清楚。2012 年春季，来自伊利诺伊州克林顿县的五头显然健康的东部菱背响尾蛇（）怀孕进入圈养分娩并返回种群。在圈养期间，一只成年雌性和 21 只幼崽死亡。随后使用定量聚合酶链反应（qPCR）确认五人阳性。2016 年，伊利诺伊州杰克逊县的一条患有蛇霉菌病的怀孕响尾蛇（）在圈养中生下了 13 只幼崽。所有幼崽出生后立即从皮肤上采集拭子，并使用 qPCR 确认 为阴性。幼崽与阳性雌性一起生活了 10 天，然后所有动物都重新拭子并放回野外。一只幼崽在释放时呈阳性。最初的阴性结果随后在产后几天出现阳性结果表明，幼崽在直接接触后被雌性感染。这两个病例系列都代表了产后新生儿的自然感染，并强调了这种疾病在人口统计学上重要年龄段的重要性。
