environmental, wildlife and zoo assay data sheet
Paranannizziopsis
Test code:
F0014
- Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of
Paranannizziopsis by real time polymerase
chain reaction.
Paranannizziopsis is a genus of fungi within the
family Nannizziopsiaceae, order Onygenales. These fungi are
known for causing dermatomycosis (fungal skin infections) in
reptiles, particularly snakes and tuataras. The genus includes
the five major identified species - P. australasiensis, P.
crustacea, P. californiensis, P. longispora, and P.
tardicrescens —with P. australasiensis being the most
widespread, affecting squamates and tuataras in regions like
Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Other species (P.
crustacea, P. californiensis, P. longispora, and P.
tardicrescens) are predominantly associated with tentacled
snakes, suggesting narrower host specificity.
Infected animals will develop skin lesions,
discoloration, crusting and scaling, localized inflammation or
swelling around infected areas, abnormal or incomplete shedding
of skin in snakes, lethargy, reduced appetite, or discomfort due
to skin irritation. Severe infections can sometimes lead to
death.
Paranannizziopsis infections have been
documented in both captive and wild reptile populations,
including snakes in the United States, Canada, and Europe, as
well as non-native panther chameleons in Florida. The fungi are
thought to be primary pathogens, potentially introduced through
the pet trade or through the environment, as evidenced by the
detection of P. australasiensis in soil samples in New
Zealand. There is not much data on the environmental detection
of other Paranannizziopsis fungi in the environment,
and this may explain why P. australasiensis has the
highest prevalence in both captive and wild settings.
It is hard to diagnose this fungal infection
because it looks similar to ophidiomycosis (caused by
Ophidiomyces ophidiicola), and sometimes both infections
can happen at the same time, making it even harder to tell them
apart. Culture detection is difficult. Molecular detection using
polymerase chain reaction is a preferred method to identify
these fungi, as it is specific and sensitive (Blanvillain et
al., 2024; Lorch et al., 2023).
Utilities:
-
Help confirm the disease causing agent
-
Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical
diagnosis of
Paranannizziopsis
infection.
-
Help ensure that snake populations and facilities are free of
Paranannizziopsis
infection
-
Early prevention of spread of this fungus
-
Minimize human exposure to this fungus
Reference:
Bohuski, E., Lorch, J.M., Griffin,
K.M. and Blehert, D.S. (2015) TaqMan real-time polymerase chain
reaction for detection of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the fungus
associated with snake fungal disease. BMC Vet Res. 11: 95.
Specimen requirements:
Lesion swab,
or skin swab, or environmental swab, or 0.2 ml of shed skin, or 0.2 ml fresh, frozen or fixed
tissue.
Contact Zoologix
if advice is needed to determine an appropriate specimen type
for a specific diagnostic application. For specimen
types not listed here, please contact Zoologix to confirm
specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all
specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during
very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship
with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are
specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain
frozen in transit. See shipping
instructions for more information
Turnaround time:
2 business days
Methodology:
Qualitative real time PCR
Normal range:
Nondetected
