Confirmed cases of snake fungal disease in historical museum specimens
Dates
Publication Date
2021-04-26
Start Date
2014-09-01
End Date
2015-07-01
Citation
Lorch, J.M., Price, S.J., Lankton, J.S., and Drayer, A.N., 2021, Confirmed cases of snake fungal disease in historical museum specimens: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FLC1XK.
Summary
Snake fungal disease (SFD) represents a conservation threat to wild snake populations. The disease was reported in North America early in the 21st century, but the history of SFD has not been investigated. We examined museum specimens and confirmed cases of SFD based on clinical signs, histopathologic lesions, and detection of the causative agent Ophidiomyces ophidiicola. The first confirmed cases of SFD in these specimens was >50 years prior to the disease’s reported emergence.
Summary
Snake fungal disease (SFD) represents a conservation threat to wild snake populations. The disease was reported in North America early in the 21st century, but the history of SFD has not been investigated. We examined museum specimens and confirmed cases of SFD based on clinical signs, histopathologic lesions, and detection of the causative agent Ophidiomyces ophidiicola. The first confirmed cases of SFD in these specimens was >50 years prior to the disease’s reported emergence.
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Lorch_SFD-museum-specimens_metadata.xml Original FGDC Metadata
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38.51 KB
application/fgdc+xml
Lorch_SFD_museum snake data.csv
58.59 KB
text/csv
Purpose
These data were collected to determine if snake fungal disease occurred in wild snakes in the USA prior to the first reported cases in the early 21st century. The data could be used by future researchers to understand how prevalence of the disease has changed over time.
