Confirmed Cases of Ophidiomycosis in Museum Specimens from as Early as 1945, United States

Abstract

Ophidiomycosis represents a conservation threat to wild snake populations. The disease was reported in North America early in the 21st century, but the history of ophidiomycosis has not been investigated. We examined museum specimens and confirmed cases of ophidiomycosis >50 years before the disease’s reported emergence.

Keywords

• emerging infectious disease
• museums
• mycoses
• reptiles
• snakes
• fungi