Soft Shell Fungus

The soft shell fungus is a condition which primarily affects Duugaths. It's acquired by swimming or bathing in contaminated waters and not fully drying afterwards. While Duugath fur is naturally oily as a means of protection, water can become trapped in the joints around the shell. The fungal spores germinate and latch onto the underside of the shell within a day of landing on a suitable host. Early detection is nearly impossible as the fungus makes its way underneath the shell and feeds off dead shell flakes and debris. As it matures, it eventually starts to produce spores which either proliferate under the shell or are shed the next time the Duugath is submerged in water.
It also produces a second kind of spore which sticks to the underside of the shell and is able to reach thin blood vessels near the surface of the shell. They extract nutrition from the blood and share it with the rest of the fungal colony. Eventually, the Duugath becomes itchy and starts trying to dislodge the irritant, but the fungus is too well protected to be affected. At this point, the shell also starts to soften as calcium and other nutrients are deprived due to the fungus intercepting them. The underside of the shell starts to feel soft, and the edges become slightly droopy.
If left untreated, the fungus will continue to erode the shell until it takes on a jellylike texture. It doesn't kill the Duugath, but the soft shell impedes the animal's ability to retreat back into it for protection, and predators are able to puncture the shell. The animal will also develop sores from scratching at the areas around the edge of the shell which can lead to other infections.
There is hope for the Duugath. Veterinarians have developed a cure for the fungus. Supplemented with a diet that's rich in protein and calcium, the damage to the shell can be reversed. The drug comes in an unusual form of a pellet which is fed to the infected Duugath. It must be fed three times a day for a week to kill off the fungus, and the treatment continues for another two weeks to ensure that there isn't reinfection.

Type

Fungal