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Estimating host species and spatial variation in infection with the fungal pathogen that causes snake fungal disease

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dc.contributor.authorConley, Dane Alexanderen
dc.contributor.committeechairHoyt, Joseph R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHawley, Dana Michelleen
dc.contributor.committeememberLangwig, Kate Elizabethen
dc.contributor.departmentBiological Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2023-12-15T09:01:18Zen
dc.date.available2023-12-15T09:01:18Zen
dc.date.issued2023-12-14en
dc.description.abstractEmerging wildlife diseases represent a serious threat to conservation efforts. Impacts of emerging multi-host pathogens can vary greatly among species as well as geographically, and understanding which populations will be at greatest risk is essential for conserving biodiversity. Snake fungal disease (SFD), caused by the fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, is responsible for lethal infections in snakes and has contributed to the decline of multiple North American snake populations. However, which species are most affected by this disease and how infections vary regionally remains unknown. Here we sampled 44 different species across 14 sites throughout the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. We found a strong effect of latitude on both pathogen prevalence and severity, with more severe infections at more northern latitudes. We also found high variability in pathogen prevalence and infection severity among species. There was a strong positive relationship between pathogen prevalence and disease severity, suggesting that SFD is not just highly prevalent in some populations but also highly virulent. More broadly, our results support that SFD likely has continued impacts on snake populations with some species experiencing greater disease than others attributed to spatial and host variation.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralConserving biodiversity is a significant challenge. Wildlife species are under multiple threats including habitat loss, changing climate, species introductions, pollution, and infectious diseases. Emerging wildlife diseases can pose a major problem for wildlife as they often go undetected until they cause substantial declines for the affected species, sometimes leading to population extirpations and extinction events. Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging disease caused by the fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, which has contributed to the decline of some North American snake populations. However, little is known about differences in infection, transmission, and host responses to SFD in a broader community context. To investigate the dynamics of this pathogen, we collected swab samples from 44 species from a total of 14 sites in New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana. We sampled individual snakes to examine variation over a geographic gradient and among species. We found high variability among sites with more severe disease at northern sites. There was also high variability among species and some populations experienced both high pathogen prevalence and disease severity. Our results show that SFD is highly variable within snake communities and may still be causing population level effects.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:39211en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/117204en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectDisease ecologyen
dc.subjectSnake Fungal Diseaseen
dc.subjectOphidiomyces ophidiicolaen
dc.subjectfungal pathogenen
dc.titleEstimating host species and spatial variation in infection with the fungal pathogen that causes snake fungal diseaseen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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