The natural history, ecology, and epidemiology of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola and its potential impact on free-ranging snake populations

Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the causative agent of snake fungal disease, is a serious emerging fungal pathogen of North American-endemic and captive snakes. We provide a detailed literature review, introduce new ecological and biological information and consider aspects of O. ophiodiicola that need further investigation. The current biological evidence suggests that this fungus can persist as an environmental saprobe in soil, as well as colonizing living hosts. Not unlike other emerging fungal pathogens, many fundamental questions such as the origin of O. ophiodiicola, mode of transmission, environmental influences, and effective treatment options still need to be investigated.