Ophidiomycosis, but not reproductive status, is associated with reduced post-capture glycemic response in pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius)


SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING (VAM)
January 3 – Febuary 28, 2021

Meeting Abstract


P27-2  Sat Jan 2  Ophidiomycosis, but not reproductive status, is associated with reduced post-capture glycemic response in pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius) McPherson, SM*; Agugliaro, J; Farrell, TM; Lind, CM; University of New England, Biddeford, ME; Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ; Stetson University, DeLand, FL; Stockton University, Galloway, NJ smcpherson2@une.edu

Challenges to homeostasis, including threat of predation, elicit an acute adrenal response in vertebrates and cause reallocation of energetic resources. The magnitude of the mobilization of energy substrates (e.g. glucose) in the blood plasma may depend on individual energetic status or competing physiological processes. In viviparous snakes, the physiological state of pregnancy and coping with emergent fungal pathogens may result in significant energetic costs to individuals and force tradeoffs that impact the adrenal response to acute stress. We tested the hypotheses that pregnancy and ophidiomycosis attenuate the mobilization of glucose in response to short-term capture stress. In summer 2019, blood samples were drawn from pregnant and non-reproductive pygmy rattlesnakes upon capture (pre-stress) and again after 30 minutes of handling and confinement (post-stress). Plasma glucose concentrations were measured using a point-of-care glucometer (FreeStyle Lite®, Abbott, USA). All snakes were swabbed for qPCR detection of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo), the causative agent of ophidiomycosis, and cloacal body temperatures were recorded. Effects of reproductive status and ophidiomycosis on the change in glucose concentration (post-stress minus pre-stress) and post-stress glucose concentration were analyzed using separate ANCOVA models including cloacal body temperature as a significant covariate. While glycemic response did not differ significantly by reproductive status, both measures of glycemic response were significantly lower in Oo-positive snakes. This reduction in glycemic response to acute stress may have long-term fitness implications for snakes with ophidiomycosis.

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