This study, led by PhD student Matteo Di Nicola, is not on the Batrachochytrium fungi but on Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo), a fungus that specifically infects snakes. The research provides a comprehensive overview of Oo’s distribution in Italy, utilizing both contemporary field samples and historical museum specimens. Analyzing 423 snakes across 17 species and regions, the team detected Oo in 32 individuals from five species, notably prevalent in the semi-aquatic dice snake (Natrix tessellata). The study also identified two distinct clades of Oo: Clade I, primarily found in older museum specimens, suggesting a historical presence, and Clade II, prevalent in recent samples, indicating a current advantage. These findings highlight the complex epidemiology of snake fungal disease in Europe and underscore the need for standardized surveillance to better understand and manage this emerging threat to snake populations