Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging threat
to wild snakes. First identified in 2006, it is caused by the
environmental saprobe Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. The current distribution
of SFD is focused on eastern United States, but the fungus has also been diagnosed
in wild snakes in Canada and Europe. So far it has been isolated from over 30
different snake species. Several details of the fungus life cycle,
environmental and other factors affecting host vulnerability and fungus
pathogenicity, and long-term impacts of SFD on snake populations are still
unknown. However, SFD poses a serious risk to isolated, small populations of
already threatened snake species.