A cryptic concern for snakes of Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area: Cryptosporidium serpentis
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
11-4-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
11-4-2025 12:50 PM
Abstract
A cryptic concern for snakes of Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area: Cryptosporidium serpentis
Grant Beck1, Autumn Cruz1, Claire Jaspers1, Amy Aulthouse1, Dennis De Luca1, Kristy Becka2, Pam Dennis2, Eileen Wyza3, Kat Krynak1
1 Ohio Northern University
2 Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and The Ohio State University
3 Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Cryptosporidium serpentis is specific to and pathogenic in herpetofauna hosts. Knowledge of this pathogen in wild populations is limited, but studies from captive snakes indicate the parasite causes severe gastroenteritis and ultimately death. C. serpentis was discovered in quarantined captive breeding colonies of Ohio endangered Plains Gartersnakes and it was hypothesized that the pathogen entered these colonies via breeding stock from Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (KPWA). To assess prevalence of C. serpentis in wild snakes of KPWA we collected cloacal swabs and opportunistically collected fecal samples from all snake species during the annual Ohio Division of Natural Resources’ snake survey. We used quantitative PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene region of Cryptosporidium spp. together with a C. serpentis specific FAM-labeled probe to examine parasite loads across samples (N=209). C. serpentis was detected in 10.4% of snakes and in 3/7 snake species sampled, including two threatened species. While this result may illicit concern, it is important to next assess whether infected wild snakes can persist with the parasite. KPWA offers a unique opportunity to examine this parasite in the context of ongoing long term snake population surveys allowing for insight into potential parasite influences on wild populations.
Recommended Citation
Beck, Grant Mattes, "A cryptic concern for snakes of Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area: Cryptosporidium serpentis" (2025). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 60.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2025/Posters/60
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A cryptic concern for snakes of Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area: Cryptosporidium serpentis
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
A cryptic concern for snakes of Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area: Cryptosporidium serpentis
Grant Beck1, Autumn Cruz1, Claire Jaspers1, Amy Aulthouse1, Dennis De Luca1, Kristy Becka2, Pam Dennis2, Eileen Wyza3, Kat Krynak1
1 Ohio Northern University
2 Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and The Ohio State University
3 Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Cryptosporidium serpentis is specific to and pathogenic in herpetofauna hosts. Knowledge of this pathogen in wild populations is limited, but studies from captive snakes indicate the parasite causes severe gastroenteritis and ultimately death. C. serpentis was discovered in quarantined captive breeding colonies of Ohio endangered Plains Gartersnakes and it was hypothesized that the pathogen entered these colonies via breeding stock from Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (KPWA). To assess prevalence of C. serpentis in wild snakes of KPWA we collected cloacal swabs and opportunistically collected fecal samples from all snake species during the annual Ohio Division of Natural Resources’ snake survey. We used quantitative PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene region of Cryptosporidium spp. together with a C. serpentis specific FAM-labeled probe to examine parasite loads across samples (N=209). C. serpentis was detected in 10.4% of snakes and in 3/7 snake species sampled, including two threatened species. While this result may illicit concern, it is important to next assess whether infected wild snakes can persist with the parasite. KPWA offers a unique opportunity to examine this parasite in the context of ongoing long term snake population surveys allowing for insight into potential parasite influences on wild populations.