Incidents of snake fungal disease caused by the fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola in Texas

The pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola , widely known as the primary cause of snake fungal disease (SFD) has been detected in Texas’s naïve snakes. Our team set out to characterize O. ophidiicola’s spread eastern Texas. From December 2018 until November 2021, we sampled and screened with ultraviolet (UV) light, 176 snakes across Texas 27 . positive using qPCR one which SFD was confirmed via additional histological examination. Upon finding ribbon clear clinical display, isolated cultured what believe be first culture from This O TX displays a ring halo formation when grown on solid medium well cellular autofluorescence expected. Imaging reveals individual cells within septated hyphae branches contain distinct nucleus separation neighboring cells. Overall, have found over 1/10 that may infected East Texas, gives credence onset These results add progress continental United States.