Using Anti‐Fungal Bacteria to Contest Snake Fungal Disease

Abstract

Often referred to as indicator species, amphibians and reptiles are abundant and vital in ecosystems across the world. However, across the globe there is a decrease in this abundance due to various factors. Many species are already critically endangered or on the brink of extinction. One of these factors is the spread of various fungal diseases.Ophidiomvces ophiodiicola, also known as Snake Fungal Disease (SFD), is a new fungi spreading and residing on the skin of snakes. Although SFD does not immediately harm the infected reptile, in combination with other disturbances or stressors SFD could pose a serious threat to the reptile populations infected. The geographic range and the quantity of SFD infections are relatively unknown. Through this research we strive to isolate a residential bacteria from either reptiles’ skin or gut that posses antifungal properties along with estimate the extent of SFD infections. The first phase of this project was to collect skin and fecal samples from 18 species of snakes and lizards from the southeastern and southwestern US. We will then perform DNA extraction and real time PCR to determine if Ophidiomvces ophiodiicola was present on the skin or in the gut of each animal. We will also isolate resident bacterial species from the skin and gut and perform in vitro challenge assays against the snake fungal pathogen to determine the probiotic antifungal effects of resident skin bacteria. Antifungal bacterial species could be used for future probiotic field based treatments of reptiles at risk of infection from Ophidiomvces ophiodiicola.