DOCSLIB.ORG

Llinas, J – Key Fungal Diseases of Australian Reptiles

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Llinas, J – Key Fungal Diseases of Australian Reptiles Key fungal diseases of Australian reptiles Dr Joshua Llinas The Unusual Pet Vets Jindalee Shop 1/62 Looranah Street, Jindalee QLD, 4074 Introduction With an ever-expanding differential list for dermal lesions in reptiles, it is important for the clinician to be across emerging conditions. This presentation will discuss important fungal diseases found in Australian reptiles, their clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and the diagnostic approach and treatment. The focus will be on the group previously referred to as Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii now reassigned to the Order Onygenaceae 23, the fungal pathogen that is responsible for “yellow fungus disease” and the recently described microsporidia, Encephalitozoon pogonae 32. Finally, there will a brief discussion on lesser diagnosed fungi, Aspergillus spp, Basidiobolus spp. Geotrichium spp., Paecilomyces spp., and Trichophyton spp. Onygenaceae- Yellow Fungus Disease and the CANV complex Previously Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii, this pathogen has undergone a taxonomy reassignment to the Order Onygenaceae30. Three groups, Nannizziopsis and Paranannizziopsis in lizards along with Ophidiomyces in snakes, they contain at least 16 species of pathogenic fungi to reptiles, all causing deep dermal lesions12,2,4,27. Of these, the most frequently isolated in Australia are two of the nine currently known species of Nannizziopsis, Nannizziopsis barbata, and less commonly detected in Australia, Nannizziopsis guarroi . The list of lizard species with confirmed infection of N. barbata has recently been expanded to include, free living and captive Australian Eastern Water dragon (Intellagama lesueurii), central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), Coastal bearded dragon (Pogona barbata), Tommy Round head lizard (Diporiphora australis), a captive Eastern Blue tongue skink (Tiliqua scincoides), Centralian blue tongue skink (Tiliqua multifasciata ), and a Kimberly rock monitor (Varanus glauerti)27,20,5. The recently reported outbreaks of fungal dermatomycoses in multiple colonies of Eastern water dragons in South East Queensland with Nannizziopsis most similar to N. barbata highlights the need for the veterinary community to be aware of this condition (N.Peterson and C. Frere Personal Communication Dec 2018). Pathogenesis Nannizziopsis spp have been found to be a primary pathogen reptiles that results in a dermatomycosis of the skin and mucocutaneous junctions27. Reptile skin has an outer layer of keratin which is the preferred substrate for these fungi. In experimentally infected veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus), although damaged skin increased the risk of infection, this was not required for infection to take hold fulfilling Koch’s postulate and indicating it is a primary pathogen 21. Increased environmental or social stressors such as overcrowding, suboptimal temperatures or humidity, poor hygiene which all lead to suppressed immune system, likely contribute to the pathogenicity in both captive and free- living reptiles 28. Very little is known about the epidemiology of these pathogens, but reports suggest it is not a common part of the microbiota of the skin of reptiles 22 but, is found naturally in the environment and substrates 4. Proceedings of VetFest 2020 Llinas, J – Key fungal diseases of Australian reptiles 224 Gross appearance Typical lesions range from hyperkeratotic and granulomatous to moist, vesicular, liquified necrosis due to the keratinolytic activity of this genus of fungi4,12,21-23,30. The lesions range in colour from yellow to tan-brown giving rise to the colloquial description, “Yellow Fungus Disease”. Initial lesions may appear as a small, superficial discolouration when the keratin layer of the stratum corneum is infected. Lesions can appear anywhere on the dermis or mucocutaneous junctions with a predilection for the head, ventral abdomen, limbs and tail27,20,12. If left to progress , penetration into the muscle and bone can occur5. The author has observed the eastern water dragons to have more hyperkeratotic lesions while captive bearded dragons display more, liquified necrosis when in advanced stages of the disease process. Systemic dissemination is rare but does occur, with one report demonstrating it had spread to the liver4. Diagnosis Definitive diagnosis is made through a combination of histopathology, cultures and PCR testing30,20. Histopathological findings of intralesional fungal hyphae and granulomas would suggest further investigation is warranted. Cultures can be performed and if Nannizziopsis is suspected, it is important to communicate to the lab and pathologist as the need for lower incubation temperatures (25-35C) as higher temperatures can restrict growth resulting in false negatives20. Increased incubation times of 2-3 weeks have been suggested due to slower growth at these lower temperatures20. Recent development of highly sensitive and specific PCR assays has made definitive diagnosis possible by this method 30,5,27. Treatment options A combination of surgical debridement, topical and systemic treatments may be required to effectively treat these pathogens27. Surgery to debulk larger lesions may allow topical antifungal preparations to work more effectively but this has not been thoroughly investigated. Topical preparations commonly suggested including 0.125% chlorhexidine, 2% chlorhexidine, terbinafine and miconazole and povidone iodine1,34. Systemic treatment with a triazole is the mainstay of treatment, with ketoconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole most frequently used27,10,34. Voriconazole appears to be more affective and carries fewer side effects than the other triazoles although side effects are still possible34. Response to treatments have been varied with combination of surgery and voriconazole showing the most promise at this stage Collection management is focused around optimal husbandry and diet, cleanliness and disinfection of the environment. Proper quarantine procedures should be in place to minimse the risk of transmissible. Using easily replaceable substrate is required to ensure frequent changing is possible will also help with reduced infection rates. Stress reduction in both captive and free-living populations is paramount to minimising susceptibility. Microsporidia in Pogona vitticeps Microsporidia are obligate, intracellular pathogenic fungi with over 1300 species described and have been distributed into approximately 200 genera 8,26,35,6. Microsporidia have a small, fast evolving genome that lack many of the genes that would allow them to live independently 17. Although initially categorized as a protozoan 37, publication of a microsporidium genome 13 and investigations into the phylogeny of their alpha and beta tubulins 16,15, suggest a fungal origin. Proceedings of VetFest 2020 Llinas, J – Key fungal diseases of Australian reptiles 225 Pathogenesis Affected individuals are usually immunocompromised 7,8,31,36 and a number of clinical signs have been reported including lethargy, anorexia, diarrhoea, weight loss, and sudden death 36,11,19,14. Gross appearance of lesions The lesions are seen as multiple small white to pale yellow nodules or larger granulomatous lesions with visible necrosis which may be widely disseminated throughout the organs. Diagnosis Due to the non-specific clinical signs seen with microsporidiosis 32, a diagnosis is generally made on post mortem examination. Microsporidium spores have been detected by light microscopy 3, electron microscopy 9, immunohistochemistry 11, and PCR 25,24. Multiple cases of ovarian granulomas have been reported with the author recently finding two individuals from two separate collections after large masses were palpated on routine physical exams. These masses were confirmed by histopathology and PCR to be the microsporidia E. pogonae. It is difficult to recommend screening tests as the validity in asymptomatic animals has not been clarified and further studies are required to determine the normal prevalence in reptiles. However, if granulomatous lesions are present, a combination of histopathology, blood and PCR can be used to confirm a diagnosis of microsporidiosis. Molecular techniques have been used to identify microsporidia to the genus level in only a few reptile cases with three genera being reported: Encephalitozoon, Heterosporis and Pleistophora of which only Encephalitozoon has so far been described in P. vitticeps 32. Histological lesions are typically granulomatous with necrotic foci. Lesions have been reported in in a wide variety of tissues including muscle, testes, ovaries, colon, kidneys, the oral cavity, liver, spleen, lungs, adrenals and fat bodies 33,14,25. The yolk of hatchlings born to parents with confirmed microsporidia was found to contain the organism, indicating the potential for vertical transmission 19. In a report by Sokolova et al. 32, sequence analysis of a microsporidium found in a P.vitticeps suggested it was a separate species, unique to reptiles, and it was named Encephalitozoon pogonae 29. The author has confirmed E. pogonae in two Australian captive collections by histopathology, PCR testing and DNA sequencing. Antemortem detection of E. pogonae was also possible in blood and oral- cloacal swabs. Treatment Localised lesions such as those found on the nictitans have been treated with a combination of surgery and fenbendazole18. To date, the two unpublished cases of granulomatous disease of the ovaries were treated with a combination of surgery and fenbendazole with one patient dying shortly after
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description
    Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description 2010 Disclaimer While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this ECD are correct, the Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of the Environment does not guarantee and accepts no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to the currency, accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of the information in this ECD. Note: There may be differences in the type of information contained in this ECD publication, to those of other Ramsar wetlands. © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2010. The ‘Ecological Character Description for the Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar Site: Final Report’ is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This report should be attributed as ‘BMT WBM. (2010). Ecological Character Description of the Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar Site. Prepared for the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.’ The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright, [name of third party] ’. Ecological Character Description for the Shoalwater and
    [Show full text]
  • Catalogue of Protozoan Parasites Recorded in Australia Peter J. O
    1 CATALOGUE OF PROTOZOAN PARASITES RECORDED IN AUSTRALIA PETER J. O’DONOGHUE & ROBERT D. ADLARD O’Donoghue, P.J. & Adlard, R.D. 2000 02 29: Catalogue of protozoan parasites recorded in Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 45(1):1-164. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835. Published reports of protozoan species from Australian animals have been compiled into a host- parasite checklist, a parasite-host checklist and a cross-referenced bibliography. Protozoa listed include parasites, commensals and symbionts but free-living species have been excluded. Over 590 protozoan species are listed including amoebae, flagellates, ciliates and ‘sporozoa’ (the latter comprising apicomplexans, microsporans, myxozoans, haplosporidians and paramyxeans). Organisms are recorded in association with some 520 hosts including mammals, marsupials, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. Information has been abstracted from over 1,270 scientific publications predating 1999 and all records include taxonomic authorities, synonyms, common names, sites of infection within hosts and geographic locations. Protozoa, parasite checklist, host checklist, bibliography, Australia. Peter J. O’Donoghue, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia; Robert D. Adlard, Protozoa Section, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane 4101, Australia; 31 January 2000. CONTENTS the literature for reports relevant to contemporary studies. Such problems could be avoided if all previous HOST-PARASITE CHECKLIST 5 records were consolidated into a single database. Most Mammals 5 researchers currently avail themselves of various Reptiles 21 electronic database and abstracting services but none Amphibians 26 include literature published earlier than 1985 and not all Birds 34 journal titles are covered in their databases. Fish 44 Invertebrates 54 Several catalogues of parasites in Australian PARASITE-HOST CHECKLIST 63 hosts have previously been published.
    [Show full text]
  • Chrysosporium Keratinophilum IFM 55160 (AB361656)Biorxiv Preprint 99 Aphanoascus Terreus CBS 504.63 (AJ439443) Doi
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/591503; this version posted April 4, 2019. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Characterization of novel Chrysosporium morrisgordonii sp. nov., from bat white-nose syndrome (WNS) affected mines, northeastern United States Tao Zhang1, 2, Ping Ren1, 3, XiaoJiang Li1, Sudha Chaturvedi1, 4*, and Vishnu Chaturvedi1, 4* 1Mycology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA 2 Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China 3Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA 4Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA *Corresponding authors: Sudha Chaturvedi, [email protected]; Vishnu Chaturvedi, [email protected]. 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/591503; this version posted April 4, 2019. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Abstract Psychrotolerant hyphomycetes including unrecognized taxon are commonly found in bat hibernation sites in Upstate New York. During a mycobiome survey, a new fungal species, Chrysosporium morrisgordonii sp. nov., was isolated from bat White-nose syndrome (WNS) afflicted Graphite mine in Warren County, New York. This taxon was distinguished by its ability to grow at low temperature spectra from 6°C to 25°C. Conidia were tuberculate and thick-walled, globose to subglobose, unicellular, 3.5-4.6 µm ×3.5-4.6 µm, sessile or borne on narrow stalks.
    [Show full text]
  • SINGLE DOSE PHARMACOKINETICS of AZITHROMYCIN in BALL PYTHONS (Python Regius)
    SINGLE DOSE PHARMACOKINETICS OF AZITHROMYCIN IN BALL PYTHONS (Python regius) Rob L. Coke, DVM,1* Robert P. Hunter, MS, PhD,2 Ramiro Isaza, MS, DVM,1 James W. Carpenter, MS, DVM,1 David Koch, MS,2 and Marie Goatley, BS2 1Department of Clinical Sciences and the 2Department of Anatomy and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 USA Abstract Azithromycin is a new sub-class of macrolide antibiotics classified as an azalide. This antimicrobial has a similar mechanism of action to the other macrolides (i.e., erythromycin) by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit.2 Azithromycin provides broad-spectrum antibiosis against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.2 It also has the ability to obtain sustained drug concentrations in tissues much greater than the corresponding plasma concentration.1,3 This study determined the pharmacokinetics of azithromycin (Zithromax®, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY 10017 USA) in ball pythons (Python regius), a species that is representative of the Boidae family. Snakes were administered azithromycin intravenously (i.v.) to determine distribution and orally (p.o.) to determine bioavailability and absorption. Seven ball pythons (two males, five females), weighing approximately 0.67-0.96 kg, were used in this experiment. Using a crossover design, each snake was given a single 10 mg/kg i.v. dose of azithromycin via cardiocentesis. For the oral study, each snake was dosed at 10 mg/kg using the same i.v. azithromycin preparation. Blood samples were collected prior to dosing and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr post-azithromycin administration.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny of Chrysosporia Infecting Reptiles: Proposal of the New Family Nannizziopsiaceae and Five New Species
    CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided byPersoonia Diposit Digital 31, de Documents2013: 86–100 de la UAB www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/pimj RESEARCH ARTICLE http://dx.doi.org/10.3767/003158513X669698 Phylogeny of chrysosporia infecting reptiles: proposal of the new family Nannizziopsiaceae and five new species A.M. Stchigel1, D.A. Sutton2, J.F. Cano-Lira1, F.J. Cabañes3, L. Abarca3, K. Tintelnot4, B.L. Wickes5, D. García1, J. Guarro1 Key words Abstract We have performed a phenotypic and phylogenetic study of a set of fungi, mostly of veterinary origin, morphologically similar to the Chrysosporium asexual morph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (Onygenales, Eurotiomycetidae, animal infections Eurotiomycetes, Ascomycota). The analysis of sequences of the D1-D2 domains of the 28S rDNA, including rep- ascomycetes resentatives of the different families of the Onygenales, revealed that N. vriesii and relatives form a distinct lineage Chrysosporium within that order, which is proposed as the new family Nannizziopsiaceae. The members of this family show the mycoses particular characteristic of causing skin infections in reptiles and producing hyaline, thin- and smooth-walled, small, Nannizziopsiaceae mostly sessile 1-celled conidia and colonies with a pungent skunk-like odour. The phenotypic and multigene study Nannizziopsis results, based on ribosomal ITS region, actin and β-tubulin sequences, demonstrated that some of the fungi included Onygenales in this study were different from the known species of Nannizziopsis and Chrysosporium and are described here as reptiles new. They are N. chlamydospora, N. draconii, N. arthrosporioides, N. pluriseptata and Chrysosporium longisporum. Nannizziopsis chlamydospora is distinguished by producing chlamydospores and by its ability to grow at 5 °C.
    [Show full text]
  • 25 Chrysosporium
    25 Chrysosporium Dongyou Liu and R.R.M. Paterson contents 25.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 197 25.1.1 Classification and Morphology ............................................................................................................................ 197 25.1.2 Clinical Features .................................................................................................................................................. 198 25.1.3 Diagnosis ............................................................................................................................................................. 199 25.2 Methods ........................................................................................................................................................................... 199 25.2.1 Sample Preparation .............................................................................................................................................. 199 25.2.2 Detection Procedures ........................................................................................................................................... 199 25.3 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................................200 References .................................................................................................................................................................................200
    [Show full text]
  • Isolates Relationship with Some Human-Associated Nannizziopsis Vriesii Complex and the Chrysosporium Anamorph of of Pathogens Cu
    Downloaded from http://jcm.asm.org/ on October 1, 2013 by UNIV OF ALBERTA of more» 2013, 51(10):3338. DOI: http://journals.asm.org/site/subscriptions/ http://journals.asm.org/site/misc/reprints.xhtml http://jcm.asm.org/content/51/10/3338#ref-list-1 Receive: RSS Feeds, eTOCs, free email alerts (when new articles cite this article), This article cites 32 articles, 5 of which can be accessed free at: Updated information and services can be found at: http://jcm.asm.org/content/51/10/3338 These include: the Chrysosporium Anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii Complex and Relationship with Some Human-Associated Isolates 10.1128/JCM.01465-13. Published Ahead of Print 7 August 2013. Lynne Sigler, Sarah Hambleton and Jean A. Paré J. Clin. Microbiol. Molecular Characterization of Reptile Pathogens Currently Known as Members REFERENCES CONTENT ALERTS To subscribe to to another ASM Journal go to: Information about commercial reprint orders: Molecular Characterization of Reptile Pathogens Currently Known as Members of the Chrysosporium Anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii Complex and Relationship with Some Human-Associated Isolates Lynne Sigler,a Sarah Hambleton,b Jean A. Paréc University of Alberta Microfungus Collection and Herbarium, Devonian Botanic Garden, Edmonton, Alberta, Canadaa; Biodiversity (Mycology and Botany), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canadab; Zoological Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, USAc In recent years, the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV), Chrysosporium guarroi, Chrysosporium ophio- diicola, and Chrysosporium species have been reported as the causes of dermal or deep lesions in reptiles. These infections are contagious and often fatal and affect both captive and wild animals.
    [Show full text]
  • Invasive Infections Caused by Nannizziopsis Spp. Molds in Immunocompromised Patients
    DISPATCHES Invasive Infections Caused by Nannizziopsis spp. Molds in Immunocompromised Patients Céline Nourrisson, Magali Vidal-Roux, Escherichia coli sensitive to imipenem grew quickly in 1 Sophie Cayot, Christine Jacomet, pair of blood cultures. A second pair was positive 4 days Charlotte Bothorel, Albane Ledoux-Pilon, later, with the presence of large septate fungal hyphae Fanny Anthony-Moumouni, and arthroconidia. White and thin cottony mold colonies Olivier Lesens,1 Philippe Poirier1 grew on Sabouraud media incubated at 35°C (online Tech- nical Appendix Figure 1, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/EID/ We report 2 new cases of invasive infections caused by article/24/3/17-0772-Techapp1.pdf). We performed best Nannizziopsis spp. molds in France. Both patients had ce- model determination and phylogenetic analyses in MEGA6 rebral abscesses and were immunocompromised. Both pa- (http://www.megasoftware.net). We identified N. obscura tients had recently spent time in Africa. by sequencing the 18S-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1–5.8S-ITS2 region (online Technical Appendix Figure annizziopsis spp. molds have been reported in ex- 2). The strain had low MICs for antifungals as defined by Ntremely rare cerebral and disseminated infections the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility (1,2), (Table). We describe 2 cases of Nannizziopsis in- Testing (http://www.eucast.org/): amphotericin B 0.06 µg/ fection diagnosed in France during the past 2 years. Both mL, itraconazole 0.25 µg/mL, voriconazole 0.03 µg/mL, case-patients were immunocompromised and had recently posaconazole 0.06 µg/mL, caspofungin 0.5 µg/mL, and returned from Africa. micafungin 0.015 µg/mL.
    [Show full text]
  • A Preliminary Assessment of Faunal Values Within and Adjacent EPC 1029, Styx Basin, Central-East Queensland
    A preliminary assessment of faunal values within and adjacent EPC 1029, Styx Basin, central-east Queensland ) Prepared for Yeats Consulting Engineers by Ed Meyer, Ecological Consultant,S Luscombe Street, Runcorn QLD 4113 ([email protected]) Conditions of use This report may only be used for the purposes for which it was commissioned. The use of this report, or part thereof, for any other reason or purpose is prohibited without the written consent of the author. Front cover: Fauna recorded from EPC 1029 during March 2011 surveys. Clockwise from upper left: ornamental snake (Denisonia maculata); squatter pigeon (southern race) (Geophaps scripta scripta); metallic snake-eyed skink (Cryptoblepharus metal/icus); and eastern sedgefrog (Litoria tal/ax). ©Edward Meyer 2011 5 Luscombe Street, Runcorn QLD 4113 E-mail:[email protected] Version 2 _ 3 August 2011 2 Table of contents 1. Summary 4 2. Background 6 Description of study area 6 Nomenclature 6 Abbreviations and acronyms 7 3. Methodology 9 General approach 9 ) Desktop assessment 9 Likelihood of occurrence assessments 10 Field surveys 11 Survey conditions 15 Survey limitations 15 4. Results 17 Desktop assessment findings 17 Likelihood of occurrence assessments 17 Field survey results -fauna 20 Field survey results - fauna habitat 22 Habitat for conservation significant species 28 ) 5. Summary and conclusions 37 6. References 38 Appendix A: Fauna previously recorded from Desktop Assessment Study Area 41 Appendix B: likelihood of occurrence assessments for conservation significant fauna 57 Appendix C: March 2011 survey results 73 Appendix D: Habitat photos 85 Appendix E: Habitat assessment proforma 100 3 1. Summary The faunal values of land within and adjacent Exploration Permit for Coal (EPe) 1029 were investigated by way of desktop review of existing information as well as field surveys carried out in late March 201l.
    [Show full text]
  • Animal Groups: Reptiles Causative Organism: Nannizziopsis Spp., Ophidiomyces Spp., Paranannizziopsis Spp
    American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Infectious Disease Manual Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii: Nannizziopsis, Paranannizziopsis, and Ophiodiomyces ophidiicola (Under reclassification) Animal Transmission Clinical Severity Treatment Prevention Zoonotic Group(s) Signs and Control Affected Reptiles -Direct Variable Mild to Itraconazole; Proper No direct -Indirect (via dermatitis; severe but Voriconazole, disinfection of transmission fomites and Cellulitis high Terbinafine housing areas; from environmental and edema mortality (nebulization/ avoid animals contamination) may be is possible SQ implants/ contaminated reported but present. injection) fomites; humans can Internal prevent be infected organ contact with invasion infected with O. animals ophidiicola Fact Sheet compiled by: E. Marie Rush Sheet completed on: updated 1 May 2018 Fact Sheet Reviewed by: Bonnie Raphael, Tim Georoff Susceptible animal groups: Reptiles Causative organism: Nannizziopsis spp., Ophidiomyces spp., Paranannizziopsis spp. Formerly, this grouping was Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV) fungus. Recent taxonomic publications have identified new epidemiological information about these fungi grouped under the CANV appellation. While Nannizziopsis vriesii does produce a Chrysosporium anamorph in culture, all CANV-like isolates differ so that an overarching CANV appellation is discouraged. For example, the “CANV” isolates that caused fatal disease in tentacled snakes have been reclassified as two species of Paranannizziopsis, which has not been isolated from other reptile species. Paranannizziopsis includes four species that infect squamates and tuataras. Ophidiomyces (belonging to the Order Onygenales) is a potent pathogen of snakes and associated with “Snake Fungal Disease,” but it has not yet been recovered from ill lizards or crocodiles so may not be a threat to these taxa. Nannizziopsis guarroi is the main causative agent of “Yellow Fungus Disease,” a common infection in bearded dragons, green iguanas, and other lizards.
    [Show full text]
  • A Phylogeny and Revised Classification of Squamata, Including 4161 Species of Lizards and Snakes
    BMC Evolutionary Biology This Provisional PDF corresponds to the article as it appeared upon acceptance. Fully formatted PDF and full text (HTML) versions will be made available soon. A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes BMC Evolutionary Biology 2013, 13:93 doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-93 Robert Alexander Pyron ([email protected]) Frank T Burbrink ([email protected]) John J Wiens ([email protected]) ISSN 1471-2148 Article type Research article Submission date 30 January 2013 Acceptance date 19 March 2013 Publication date 29 April 2013 Article URL http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/13/93 Like all articles in BMC journals, this peer-reviewed article can be downloaded, printed and distributed freely for any purposes (see copyright notice below). Articles in BMC journals are listed in PubMed and archived at PubMed Central. For information about publishing your research in BMC journals or any BioMed Central journal, go to http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/authors/ © 2013 Pyron et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes Robert Alexander Pyron 1* * Corresponding author Email: [email protected] Frank T Burbrink 2,3 Email: [email protected] John J Wiens 4 Email: [email protected] 1 Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2023 G St.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Megafauna Assessment
    Gladstone Ports Corporation Report for Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project Marine Megafauna Baseline and Impact Assessment October 2009 Contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Overview 2 2. Policy and Legislative Context 4 3. Literature and Database Reviews 8 3.1 Overview 8 3.2 Coastal Environment of Western Basin, Gladstone 10 3.3 Cetaceans 11 3.4 Dugongs 14 3.5 Marine Turtles 19 3.6 Marine Turtles in the Gladstone Region 21 4. Marine Megafauna Survey 32 4.1 Overview 32 4.2 Methodology 33 4.3 Results 38 4.4 Aerial Surveys 45 4.5 Results Summary 52 5. Conservation Threats to Marine Fauna 53 5.1 Overview 53 5.2 Vulnerability of Dugongs to Low Levels of Mortality 53 5.3 Habitat Degradation and Loss 53 5.4 Climate Change 61 6. Potential Impacts 67 7. Risk Assessment 69 8. Cumulative Impacts and Mitigation Strategies 80 8.1 Background 80 8.2 Cumulative Impacts 81 9. Conclusion 83 10. References 86 42/15386/40/393644 Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Marine Megafauna Baseline and Impact Assessment Table Index Table 1 Listed Marine Fauna Potentially Found within the Project Area 8 Table 2 Conservation Status of Marine Turtles Identified as Occurring or Potentially Occurring in the Project Area 19 Table 3 Marine Turtle Foraging Habitats identified as High Priority in the GBRWHA 21 Table 4 Age Class Categories for Green Turtle, Dugong and Inshore Dolphins 34 Table 5 Marine Fauna Observations on Boat-based Surveys 41 Table 6 Observed Depth Range of Threatened Species Observed on Boat- based Survey 43 Table 7 Timing of Surveys
    [Show full text]