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Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides infection mimicking ophidiomycosis in ball pythons (Python regius)

Summary

A wild-caught boa snake developed severe skin lesions caused by a fungus called Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides. Within a week, six ball pythons housed nearby developed similar skin infections. Using DNA testing and microscopy, researchers confirmed this was the first documented case of this fungus infecting snakes, demonstrating how quickly fungal infections can spread between animals in shared environments.

Background

Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides is a keratinophilic fungus that infects reptiles and humans. While historically associated with lizard infections, recent evidence suggests broader host pathogen relationships across reptile taxa. This case series documents N. arthrosporioides infection in ball pythons, previously unreported in snakes.

Objective

To document and characterize N. arthrosporioides infection in ball pythons through histopathologic, morphologic, and molecular analysis. To highlight the importance of molecular confirmation in distinguishing similar fungal dermatomycoses in snakes.

Results

Commercial NGS and molecular sequencing confirmed N. arthrosporioides in all cases with 99.5-99.85% relative fungal abundance. Fungal isolates clustered in a monophyletic group with N. arthrosporioides references with 100% bootstrap support in concatenated analysis. Colony morphology showed white cottony growth with arthroconidia, sessile conidia, and septate hyphae (1-3 μm width).

Conclusion

This case series documents the first reported N. arthrosporioides infection in snakes, demonstrating contagious transmission between housed animals. Molecular diagnostics are essential for accurate fungal identification since clinical signs and morphology alone are insufficient to distinguish between Nannizziopsis, Paranannizziopsis, and Ophidiomyces species.
  • Published in:Medical Mycology Case Reports,
  • Study Type:Case Series,
  • Source: PMID: 41031330, DOI: 10.1016/j.mmcr.2025.100733
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