Molecular Characterization of Reptile Pathogens Currently Known as Members of the Chrysosporium Anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii Complex and Relationship with Some Human-Associated Isolates

In recent years, theChrysosporium anamorph ofNannizziopsis vriesii (CANV),Chrysosporium guarroi ,Chrysosporium ophiodiicola , andChrysosporium species have been reported as the causes of dermal or deep lesions in reptiles. These infections are contagious and often fatal and affect both captive and wild animals. Forty-nine CANV isolates from reptiles and six isolates from human sources were compared withN. vriesii based on their cultural characteristics and DNA sequence data. Analyses of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer and small subunit of the nuclear ribosomal gene revealed that the reptile pathogens and human isolates belong in well-supported clades corresponding to three lineages that are distinct from all other taxa within the familyOnygenaceae of the orderOnygenales . One lineage represents the genusNannizziopsis and comprisesN. vriesii ,N. guarroi , and six additional species encompassing isolates from chameleons and geckos, crocodiles, agamid and iguanid lizards, and humans. Two other lineages comprise the genusOphidiomyces , with the speciesOphidiomyces ophiodiicola occurring only in snakes, andParanannizziopsis gen. nov., with three new species infecting squamates and tuataras. The newly described species areNannizziopsis dermatitidis ,Nannizziopsis crocodili ,Nannizziopsis barbata ,Nannizziopsis infrequens ,Nannizziopsis hominis ,Nannizziopsis obscura ,Paranannizziopsis australasiensis ,Paranannizziopsis californiensis , andParanannizziopsis crustacea .Chrysosporium longisporum has been reclassified asParanannizziopsis longispora .N. guarroi causes yellow fungus disease, a common infection in bearded dragons and green iguanas, andO. ophiodiicola is an emerging pathogen of captive and wild snakes. Human-associated species were not recovered from reptiles, and reptile-associated species were recovered only from reptiles, thereby mitigating concerns related to zoonosis.