Infectious disease as a driver of declines and extinctions

Abstract

Infectious disease is an important driver of extinctions and population declines. With a few exceptions, such as the fungal disease chytridiomycosis in frogs, disease is probably underestimated as a cause of both local and global extinction because it often co-occurs with other more overt drivers of extinction, and its signs can be easily overlooked. Here, we discuss issues around attributing extinction to infectious disease and overview key underlying factors. We then examine the extent to which anthropogenic influences, such as climate change, habitat destruction and exotic species introductions, are likely to lead to increased extinction risk in association with infectious disease. Finally, we discuss strategies to mitigate the threat of extinction due to infectious disease.

Medicinal Chemistry Gone Wild

“…1 Drivers of the current mass extinction include habitat loss, global warming, and overharvesting, 2 but one specific root cause�wildlife disease�seems ripe for intervention. 3 Wildlife disease is a major driver of the current mass extinction, yet therapeutic intervention in non-human species remains poorly understood. In zoos, botanical gardens, and animal rehabilitation centers, many diseases are treatable, but the understanding of medicine for endangered species lags far behind our current understanding of human medicine.…”

“…Biodiverse plant and animal species with immunities weakened by pollution and the stress of a changing climate are dying at alarming rates . Drivers of the current mass extinction include habitat loss, global warming, and overharvesting, but one specific root causewildlife diseaseseems ripe for intervention . Wildlife disease is a major driver of the current mass extinction, yet therapeutic intervention in non-human species remains poorly understood.…”

Towards an eco-epidemiological framework for managing freshwater crayfish communities confronted with crayfish plague

“…Emerging wildlife pathogens figure prominently among the threats to life on Earth in the Anthropocene (Fisher et al, 2012;Jaureguiberry et al, 2022;McCallum et al, 2024). For example, amphibian or plant fungal pathogens have been observed to trigger catastrophic consequences for populations and ecosystems worldwide (e.g.…”