Work

Detection of Viable Nannizziopsis guarroi in Housing Environments Prior to Dermatological Lesion Development in Bearded Dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Nannizziopsis guarroi causes dermatomycosis in lizards and snakes. Little is known about the environment’s role in transmission of the fungus. The environments of bearded dragons experimentally inoculated with N. guarroi were cultured weekly to assess the presence of viable N. guarroi. Four of six (4/6, 66.67%) enclosures demonstrated an environmental presence of N. guarroi prior to the observation of clinical lesions in the bearded dragon housed there. The environments were positive for N. guarroi growth 7–28 days prior to lesion development. The environment should be considered as a potential site of infection for naïve reptile hosts and environmental seeding may occur prior to the development of clinical nannizziomycosis in exposed lizards.

Source: Animals

DOI: 10.3390/ani16020275

Authors: Jacob P. Dalen, Amanda D. Wong, Laura Adamovicz, Nicholas C. Liszka, Krista A. Keller

Institutions: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of California, Davis

Language: English

Topic: Fungal Infections and Studies

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896