CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL USING TERBINAFINE NEBULIZATION TO TREAT WILD LAKE ERIE WATERSNAKES (NERODIA SIPEDON INSULARUM) WITH OPHIDIOMYCOSIS.

Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is an important infectious disease caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola. To mitigate the disease's impact on individual snakes, a controlled clinical trial was conducted using terbinafine nebulization to treat snakes with ophidiomycosis. Fifty-three wild-caught Lake Erie watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum) with apparent ophidiomycosis (skin lesions present, qPCR positive for O. ophidiicola) were divided into treatment and control groups: treatment snakes were nebulized with a 2 mg/ml terbinafine solution for 30 min daily for 30 d; control snakes received nebulization with 0.9% saline or no nebulization. Weekly physical exams were conducted to assign disease severity scores based on the number, type, location, and size of lesions, and qPCR was repeated after each 30-d course of treatment. Persistently qPCR-positive snakes received multiple nebulization courses. Terbinafine nebulization showed mixed results as a treatment for ophidiomycosis: 29.2% of animals treated with terbinafine showed molecular resolution of external disease, based on antemortem swabbing, following 3-6 mon of daily nebulization; this was significantly more than with saline nebulization (5%), but molecular resolution also occurred in 11.1% of snakes that received no treatment. Terbinafine nebulization did not significantly decrease clinical disease, as measured by disease severity scores. Evaluating molecular response to treatment using fungal quantities, terbinafine nebulization significantly reduced fungal quantity after three or more courses of treatment. These results indicate that, although terbinafine nebulization is a promising treatment for ophidiomycosis, snakes may require multiple nebulization courses and disease may not always resolve completely, despite treatment. This treatment may be most useful in snakes from managed populations that can be treated for several months, rather than wild snakes who are not releasable after multiple months in captivity.

Wobbly hedgehog syndrome- a progressive neurodegenerative disease.

Wobbly hedgehog syndrome (WHS) has been long considered to be a myelin disease primarily affecting the four-toed hedgehog. In this study, we have shown for the first time that demyelination is accompanied by extensive remyelination in WHS. However, remyelination is not enough to compensate for the axonal degeneration and neuronal loss, resulting in a progressive neurodegenerative disease reminiscent of progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans. Thus, understanding the pathological features of WHS may shed light on the disease progression in progressive MS and ultimately help to develop therapeutic strategies for both diseases.

Wobbly hedgehog syndrome- a progressive neurodegenerative disease.

Wobbly hedgehog syndrome (WHS) has been long considered to be a myelin disease primarily affecting the four-toed hedgehog. In this study, we have shown for the first time that demyelination is accompanied by extensive remyelination in WHS. However, remyelination is not enough to compensate for the axonal degeneration and neuronal loss, resulting in a progressive neurodegenerative disease reminiscent of progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans. Thus, understanding the pathological features of WHS may shed light on the disease progression in progressive MS and ultimately help to develop therapeutic strategies for both diseases. Highlights: Wobbly hedgehog syndrome (WHS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease.Spongy degeneration of the brain and spinal cord is the diagnostic feature of WHS.WHS affected brain and spinal cord show extensive demyelination and remyelination.Axonal degeneration is accompanied by loss of neurons in WHS.

First Report of Ophidiomycosis in a Free-Ranging California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) in California, USA.

Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is an emerging threat to snake health worldwide. We report a case of disseminated ophidiomycosis in a California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) from Plymouth, Amador County, California, US, which is the first report of the disease in this species and in a free-ranging snake in California.