Sacred snakes: Fungal screening of the snakes collected for the Festa dei Serpari in Cocullo, Italy

Reptiles can host and potentially spread a wide range of microorganisms, yet the composition and zoonotic potential of their associated fungi remain poorly characterized. This study investigated the cutaneous mycobiota of free-ranging snakes sampled during the "Festa dei Serpari" in Cocullo, Italy, with a specific focus on yeasts and the detection of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola among filamentous fungi. A total of 143 snakes from four species (i.e., Elaphe quatuorlineata, Hierophis viridiflavus, Natrix helvetica, and Zamenis longissimus) were examined. Sterile swabs from healthy and lesioned skin were cultured and analyzed using molecular methods. Yeast isolates included Pichia kudriavzevii, Blastobotrys raffinosifermentans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Debaryomyces spp. Overall, 64.24% of samples showed fungal growth, with yeasts accounting for 11.52% of positive cultures, while O. ophidiicola was not detected. These results highlight the diversity of yeast communities associated with snakes and emphasize the importance of monitoring O. ophidiicola and fungal pathogens of zoonotic concern to elucidate the role of reptiles as potential sentinels of emerging pathogens.This research explores the mycobiota detected on the skin of wild snakes during the "Festa dei Serpari" in Italy. We examined 143 snakes from four species. Overall, 64.24% of the samples showed fungal growth. Importantly, Cryptococcus species are known to cause disease in humans.