Snake Fungal Disease in Free-Ranging Northern Pine Snakes () in New Jersey: Lesions, Severity of Sores and Investigator's Perceptions.

, the fungus causing snake fungal disease (SFD), has been identified in northern pine snakes () in New Jersey. In this paper, we (1) review the positivity rate of SFD on different locations on snakes' bodies, (2) determine the relationship between the sores and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) positivity rates, and (3) explore the relationship between the investigators' clinical evaluation of the severity of sores, their evaluation of the likelihood of the sores being positive, and the qPCR positivity of SFD for the sores. Swabbing the sores was more effective at determining whether the snakes tested positive for than ventrum swabbing alone. The perception of the severity of the sores did not relate to qPCR positivity for . We suggest that the assessment of the rate of SFD among snakes in the wild needs to include the sampling of snakes with no clinical signs, as well as those with sores, and the swabbing of all the sores collectively. Clear terminology for sores, the identification of clinical signs of SFD, and distinguishing the rates of by PCR testing should be adopted. Overall, the pine snakes exhibited a higher rate of sores and positivity of swabs by PCR testing compared to the other snakes.