Contribution of host species and pathogen clade to snake fungal disease hotspots in Europe
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Open Access Version: Publisher Index Page
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
Infectious diseases are influenced by interactions between host and pathogen, and the number of infected hosts is rarely homogenous across the landscape. Areas with elevated pathogen prevalence can maintain a high force of infection and may indicate areas with disease impacts on host populations. However, isolating the ecological processes that result in increases in infection prevalence and intensity remains a challenge. Here we elucidate the contribution of pathogen clade and host species in disease hotspots caused by Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, the pathogen responsible for snake fungal disease, in 21 species of snakes infected with multiple pathogen strains across 10 countries in Europe. We found isolated areas of disease hotspots in a landscape where infections were otherwise low. O. ophidiicola clade had important effects on transmission, and areas with multiple pathogen clades had higher host infection prevalence. Snake species further influenced infection, with most positive detections coming from species within the Natrix genus. Our results suggest that both host and pathogen identity are essential components contributing to increased pathogen prevalence.
Study Area
Publication type | Article |
---|---|
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Title | Contribution of host species and pathogen clade to snake fungal disease hotspots in Europe |
Series title | Communications Biology |
DOI | 10.1038/s42003-024-06092-x |
Volume | 7 |
Year Published | 2024 |
Language | English |
Publisher | Nature |
Contributing office(s) | National Wildlife Health Center |
Description | 440, 10 p. |
Country | Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |