POSTNATAL MORTALITY IN NEONATE RATTLESNAKES ASSOCIATED WITH .

Ophidiomycosis, historically referred to as snake fungal disease (SFD), caused by , is a significant disease of snakes characterized by crusty scales, pustules, subcutaneous nodules, and death. Ophidiomycosis is a proposed threat to sustainability of free-ranging snake populations throughout the United States and Europe, but the clinical progression during periods of reproductive activity (gravid females, neonates) is unknown. In spring 2012, five apparently healthy gravid eastern massasauga () rattlesnakes from Clinton County, Illinois, were brought into captivity to give birth and be returned into the population. While in captivity, one adult female and 21 neonates died. Five individuals were subsequently confirmed positive for by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In 2016, a gravid timber rattlesnake () with ophidiomycosis from Jackson County, Illinois, gave birth in captivity to 13 neonates. Skin swabs were taken from all neonates immediately after birth and confirmed negative for by using qPCR. The neonates remained housed with the positive female for 10 days before all animals were reswabbed and released back into the wild. One neonate was positive at time of release. The initial negative result followed by a positive result several days postpartum suggests that the neonate was infected by the female after direct contact. Both case series represent natural infection of neonates after parturition and highlight the importance of this disease in a demographically important age class.