Ultraviolet Fluorescence as a Field-Applicable Screening Tool for Lesions Consistent with Ophidiomycosis in Lake Erie Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum). 2021

Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
Wildlife Epidemiology Lab, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001 S Lincoln Ave., Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA.

Ophidiomycosis, commonly called snake fungal disease, has been linked to significant morbidity of free-ranging snakes in North America and Europe. Diagnosis of ophidiomycosis currently requires detection of skin lesions via physical exam or characteristic histopathology as well as detection of the causative agent, Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, through quantitative (q)PCR or fungal culture of a skin swab or tissue sample. While reliable, these methods require specialized training, invasive procedures (e.g., biopsy), and several days or weeks to receive results. Additionally, screening entire populations can quickly become costly. A fast, easy-to-use, cost-efficient, and sensitive screening tool is needed to optimize conservation strategies and treatment intervention. Our objective was to investigate the association between skin fluorescence under long-wave ultraviolet (UV) light (365 nm) and the detection of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola DNA using qPCR. Fifty-eight Lake Erie watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum) collected in June of 2018 and 2019 from islands in western Lake Erie, Ottawa County, Ohio, US were visually inspected for skin lesions, photographed under natural light and UV light, and swabbed for qPCR analysis. Fluorescence was highly associated with the presence of skin lesions, and the presence of at least one fluorescent skin lesion was 86% sensitive and 100% specific for identifying animals with apparent ophidiomycosis, with a positive predictive value of 100%. While we recommend performing standard diagnostics along with fluorescence, our study supports the use of visual UV fluorescence identification as a preliminary, affordable, noninvasive, and field-applicable method to screen populations for ophidiomycosis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009820 Ohio State bounded on the north by Michigan and Lake Erie, on the east by Ohio River and Pennsylvania, on the south by Ohio River, and on the west by Indiana.
D003881 Dermatomycoses Superficial infections of the skin or its appendages by any of various fungi. Skin Diseases, Fungal,Dermatomycosis,Dermatophyte Infection,Fungal Skin Diseases
D005453 Fluorescence The property of emitting radiation while being irradiated. The radiation emitted is usually of longer wavelength than that incident or absorbed, e.g., a substance can be irradiated with invisible radiation and emit visible light. X-ray fluorescence is used in diagnosis.
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012911 Snakes Limbless REPTILES of the suborder Serpentes. Serpentes,Ophidia,Snake
D014466 Ultraviolet Rays That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum immediately below the visible range and extending into the x-ray frequencies. The longer wavelengths (near-UV or biotic or vital rays) are necessary for the endogenous synthesis of vitamin D and are also called antirachitic rays; the shorter, ionizing wavelengths (far-UV or abiotic or extravital rays) are viricidal, bactericidal, mutagenic, and carcinogenic and are used as disinfectants. Actinic Rays,Black Light, Ultraviolet,UV Light,UV Radiation,Ultra-Violet Rays,Ultraviolet Light,Ultraviolet Radiation,Actinic Ray,Light, UV,Light, Ultraviolet,Radiation, UV,Radiation, Ultraviolet,Ray, Actinic,Ray, Ultra-Violet,Ray, Ultraviolet,Ultra Violet Rays,Ultra-Violet Ray,Ultraviolet Black Light,Ultraviolet Black Lights,Ultraviolet Radiations,Ultraviolet Ray
D020036 Onygenales An order of fungi in the phylum ASCOMYCOTA containing many medically important species. There are four families and mitosporic (anamorphic) forms are prominent. Ajellomyces,Ajellomyce,Onygenale

Related Publications

Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
April 2022, Journal of wildlife diseases,
Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
March 1987, Evolution; international journal of organic evolution,
Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
November 2008, The Science of the total environment,
Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
November 2000, Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology,
Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
October 2006, Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology,
Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
January 2024, Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians,
Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
February 2021, The Science of the total environment,
Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
June 2014, Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians,
Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
January 2003, Nursing times,
Kathryn Vivirito, and Ellen Haynes, and Laura Adamovicz, and Allison Wright, and Kennymac Durante, and Kristin Stanford, and Emma Scott, and Matthew Allender
August 1896, Buffalo medical journal,
Copied contents to your clipboard!