Survival of<i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i>in Water: Quarantine and Disease Control Implications

Johnson, Micah A.; Speare, Richard

doi:10.3201/eid0908.030145

Cited by 208 publications

(167 citation statements)

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“…However, this seems unlikely. The effects of rates of physical contact between frogs on rates of transmission of B. dendrobatidis are not known, but frogs can also become infected by contact with water or substrates, both of which can harbour infectious B. dendrobatidis zoospores [48,49]. In addition, zoospores can be carried and released into the environment by non-amphibian hosts, including nematodes and crayfish [50,51], and non-amphibian reservoirs, including reptiles and waterfowl [52,53].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen

et al. 2015

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To minimize the negative effects of an infection on fitness, hosts can respond adaptively by altering their reproductive effort or by adjusting their timing of reproduction. We studied effects of the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on the probability of calling in a stream-breeding rainforest frog (Litoria rheocola). In uninfected frogs, calling probability was relatively constant across seasons and body conditions, but in infected frogs, calling probability differed among seasons (lowest in winter, highest in summer) and was strongly and positively related to body condition. Infected frogs in poor condition were up to 40% less likely to call than uninfected frogs, whereas infected frogs in good condition were up to 30% more likely to call than uninfected frogs. Our results suggest that frogs employed a pre-existing, plastic, life-history strategy in response to infection, which may have complex evolutionary implications. If infected males in good condition reproduce at rates equal to or greater than those of uninfected males, selection on factors affecting disease susceptibility may be minimal. However, because reproductive effort in infected males is positively related to body condition, there may be selection on mechanisms that limit the negative effects of infections on hosts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen

et al. 2015

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“…The first observation of differences between isolates in their biological characteristics were by (Johnson & Speare 2003), who reported differential survival of 2 Australian isolates of Bd, although this study suffered from lack of statistical replication. Subsequently, 2 additional studies tested for differences in virulence between isolates by inoculating frogs with different Bd isolates (Berger et al 2005, using Litoria, andRetallick &Miera 2007, using Pseudacris triseriata).…”

Section: Strain Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A molecular perspective: biology of the emerging pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Rosenblum

Fisher

James³

et al. 2009

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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Ten years after the first discovery of the chytrid pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the catastrophic effect of Bd on wild amphibian populations is indisputable. However, a number of persistent questions remain about Bd's origin and mechanisms of pathogenicity. Here we discuss the promise of genetic and genomic tools for answering these previously intractable questions about the biology and evolutionary history of Bd. Full genomes of 2 Bd strains have recently been sequenced, and Bd research on this species using population genetics, phylogenetics, proteomics, comparative genomics and functional genomics is already underway. We review some of the insights gleaned from the first studies using these genome-scale approaches focusing particularly on Bd's genomic architecture, patterns of global genetic variation, virulence factors and genetic interactions with hosts. Avenues of future research promise to be particularly fruitful and highlight the need for integrative studies that unite genetic, ecological and spatial data in both Bd and its amphibian hosts. KEY WORDS:Genetics · Genomics · Ecological genomics · Pathogenicity · Chytrid · Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherContribution to DAO Special 4 'Chytridiomycosis: an emerging disease'

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“…However, this idea appeared to be temporarily abandoned after Rowley et al (17) retracted their initial report of the detection of B. dendrobatidis on nonamphibian hosts (18). Recently, it was reported that B. dendrobatidis can be carried on algae (12), terrestrial reptiles (19), waterfowl (20), and nematodes (21), but there is currently no evidence that these carriers actually supported pathogen growth or transmission, which would be necessary to explain the long-term persistence of B. dendrobatidis in the absence of amphibians. Other studies have grown B. dendrobatidis on boiled snake skin (11,22), sterilized bird feathers (23), and toe scales from waterfowl (20), but none of these studies demonstrated B. dendrobatidis growth on live hosts with functioning immune systems.…”

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confidence: 97%

“…Indeed, it has been implicated in the declines of hundreds of amphibian species worldwide (4-10). B. dendrobatidis is able to persist without amphibian hosts (11,12), which could prevent successful amphibian reintroductions (3). One possible mechanism for persistence is the presence of nonamphibian hosts of B. dendrobatidis.…”

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confidence: 99%

Chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has nonamphibian hosts and releases chemicals that cause pathology in the absence of infection

McMahon

Brannelly

Chatfield

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

163

158

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Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a pathogenic chytrid fungus implicated in worldwide amphibian declines, is considered an amphibian specialist. Identification of nonamphibian hosts could help explain the virulence, heterogeneous distribution, variable rates of spread, and persistence of B. dendrobatidis in freshwater ecosystems even after amphibian extirpations. Here, we test whether mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) and crayfish (Procambarus spp. and Orconectes virilis), which are syntopic with many amphibian species, are possible hosts for B. dendrobatidis. Field surveys in Louisiana and Colorado revealed that zoosporangia occur within crayfish gastrointestinal tracts, that B. dendrobatidis prevalence in crayfish was up to 29%, and that crayfish presence in Colorado wetlands was a positive predictor of B. dendrobatidis infections in cooccurring amphibians. In experiments, crayfish, but not mosquitofish, became infected with B. dendrobatidis, maintained the infection for at least 12 wk, and transmitted B. dendrobatidis to amphibians. Exposure to water that previously held B. dendrobatidis also caused significant crayfish mortality and gill recession. These results indicate that there are nonamphibian hosts for B. dendrobatidis and suggest that B. dendrobatidis releases a chemical that can cause host pathology, even in the absence of infection. Managing these biological reservoirs for B. dendrobatidis and identifying this chemical might provide new hope for imperiled amphibians.alternative hosts | field correlation | vectors | Bd toxin

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Survival ofBatrachochytrium dendrobatidisin Water: Quarantine and Disease Control Implications

Cited by 208 publications

References 11 publications

Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen

Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen

A molecular perspective: biology of the emerging pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has nonamphibian hosts and releases chemicals that cause pathology in the absence of infection

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