Invasive species represent an increasing threat to native ecosystems, harming indigenous taxa through predation, habitat modification, cross-species hybridization and alteration of ecosystem processes. Additionally, high economic costs are associated...
In an increasingly globalizing world, invasive species have become a serious concern worldwide. Numerous studies have focused on the biology of different invasive species, but few have systematically integrated socioeconomic and environmental factors...
Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is an invasive snake that has significantly affected ecosystems in southern Florida, United States. Aside from direct predation and competition, invasive species can also introduce nonnative pathogens that can adver...
The oral microbiota has a diversity of microorganisms that together maintain the homeostasis of the oral cavity. Disruptions in the balance of these microbial populations can lead to the development of oral and dental diseases. To characterize the no...
Viral pathogens represent an increasing threat to wildlife health and biodiversity. Most studies of reptile viruses are in captive populations, while knowledge of viral occurrence and diversity in free-ranging reptiles is limited. Some reptarenavirus...
Raillietiella orientalis is an obligate endoparasitic crustacean that is endemic to Southeast Asia and Africa and mainly inhabits the lungs of snake definitive hosts. This pentastomid has emerged as a neozoan parasite in North America, particularly i...
Reptiles are one of the most popular exotic pets in the world, with over a third of all described species currently being traded. However, the most commonly available reptiles are typically non-threatened, captive-bred, and/or domestically obtained,...
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 is a bone-derived hormone that promotes renal phosphate excretion. Serum FGF23 is increased in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and contributes to pathologic cardiac hypertrophy by activating FGF receptor (FGFR) 4 on car...