5.13 Disease and Pathogens
similar (salivating, disorientation, lethargy or aggressiveness, aimless wandering) (Stofregen and Dubey 1991) .
Brainworm Disease afects the nervous system of deer and elk (family Cervidae). Anderson (1972) notes that White-tailed Deer are the usual host for the parasitic Meningeal Worm ( Paralaphostrongylus tenuis ) and that larvae of the parasite that are shed in fecal matter can infest terrestrial mollusks (snails and slugs). Deer and elk can become infected by accidentally ingesting gastropods containing small numbers of infective larvae. Several terrestrial snail species found in hardwood forests have been indicated as a potential vector for Meningeal Worm. In North Carolina, snails in the Anguispira and Discus genus are sus- pected to be a vector. Little research has been published about transmission and infection of this parasite. 5.13.5 Reptiles—Anticipated Impacts Snake Fungal Disease (SFD) is an emerging disease in certain populations of wild snakes in the eastern and midwestern United States. Te NWHC has diagnosed several species with SFD, including species found in North Carolina such as Northern Water Snake, Eastern Racer, Rat Snake, Timber Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattlesnake, and Milk Snake. According to the NWHC, population-level impacts of the disease are not yet widely known and are difcult to assess due to the cryptic and solitary nature of snakes, and a general lack of long-term monitoring data. 5.13.6 Freshwater Fishes—Anticipated Impacts Diseases are a signifcant threat to the health of free-ranging and hatchery-reared pop- ulations of fshes, including a suite of important sport and restoration species (Starliper 2008) . Most of the diseases are bacterial and infection can be spread throughout the water column, making it difcult to detect and treat afected populations. Examples of bacterial disease and the species afected include Renibacterium salmoninarum (bacterial kidney disease in salmonids); Aeromonas spp. (septicemic diseases, furunculosis, in salmonids); Edwardsiella spp. (warmwater fshes); Novirhabdovirus sp. (petechial hemorrhage, exoph- thalmia and internal organs congestion in Muskellunge, Yellow Perch, Freshwater Drum, Smallmouth and Rock bass, Redhorse spp.) (Ellis 1997; Austin and Austin 1999; Emmerich and Weibel 1890; McCarthy and Roberts 1980; Millard and Faisal 2012; Diamanka et al. 2014) . In 2014, Brook Trout in several streams were found to be infested with Gill Lice Salmincola edwardsii . In 2015, Rainbow Trout in three separate river basins were found to be infected with Gill Lice S. californiensis . Tis was the frst time that Gill Lice have been documented in NC waters. Gill Lice, which are actually copepods, attach to a fsh’s gills, which can
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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