Contribution of host species and pathogen clade to snake fungal disease hotspots in Europe

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06092-x
• Publication Date: 2024-04-10T17:01:46Z
• Authors: Gaëlle Blanvillain; Jeffrey M. Lorch; Nicolas Joudrier; Stanislaw Bury; Thibault Cuenot; Michael Franzen; Fernando Martínez...; Gaëtan Guiller; Bálint Halpern; Aleksandra Kolanek; Katarzyna Kurek; Olivier Lourdais; Alix Michon; Radka Musilová; Silke Schweiger; Barbara Szulc; Sylvain Ursenbacher; Oleksandr Zinenko; Joseph R. Hoyt
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; 630 Agriculture; QH301-705.5; Biology (General); Article; 3. Good health

Abstract Infectious diseases are influenced by interactions between host and pathogen, the number of infected hosts is rarely homogenous across landscape. Areas with elevated pathogen prevalence can maintain a high force infection may indicate areas disease impacts on populations. However, isolating ecological processes that result in increases intensity remains challenge. Here we elucidate contribution clade species hotspots caused Ophidiomyces ophidiicola , responsible for snake fungal disease, 21 snakes multiple strains 10 countries Europe. We found isolated landscape where infections were otherwise low. O. had important effects transmission, clades higher prevalence. Snake further infection, most positive detections coming from within Natrix genus. Our results suggest both identity essential components contributing to increased