The emerging amphibian pathogen
            <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i>
            globally infects introduced populations of the North American bullfrog,
            <i>Rana catesbeiana</i>

Garner, Trenton W. J.; Perkins, Matthew; Govindarajulu, Purnima; Seglie, Daniele; Walker, Susan; Cunningham, Andrew A.; Fisher, Matthew C.

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2006.0494

Cited by 277 publications

(231 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Furthermore, international trade and the presence of introduced hosts had positive effects on the distribution of Bd in both the MaxEnt and GLS models, and the HP analysis revealed that each of the FN and PP factors accounted for significant unique variation in the models. Previous studies had detected Bd on imported amphibian species in markets [42] and provided molecular evidence Table 2. A summary of model averaging and hierarchical partitioning (HP) analyses for the global distribution of Bd.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate, vegetation, introduced hosts and trade shape a global wildlife pandemic

2013

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Global factors, such as climate change, international trade and introductions of exotic species are often elicited as contributors to the unprecedented rate of disease emergence, but few studies have partitioned these factors for global pandemics. Although contemporary correlative species distribution models (SDMs) can be useful for predicting the spatial patterns of emerging diseases, they focus mainly on the fundamental niche (FN) predictors (i.e. abiotic climate and habitat factors), neglecting dispersal and propagule pressure predictors (PP, number of non-native individuals released into a region). Using a validated, predictive and global SDM, we show that both FN and PP accounted for significant, unique variation to the distribution of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a pathogen implicated in the declines and extinctions of over 200 amphibian species worldwide. Bd was associated positively with vegetation, total trade and introduced amphibian hosts, nonlinearly with annual temperature range and non-significantly with amphibian leg trade or amphibian species richness. These findings provide a rare example where both FN and PP factors are predictive of a global pandemic. Our model should help guide management of this deadly pathogen and the development of other globally predictive models for species invasions and pathogen emergence influenced by FN and PP factors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate, vegetation, introduced hosts and trade shape a global wildlife pandemic

2013

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“…The fungus colonizes the keratinized tissue of amphibian skin (Longcore et al 1999) and, in at least one species, causes death through osmotic and electrolyte imbalance (Voyles et al 2007). Species vary in susceptibility (e.g., Searle et al 2011), with responses ranging from mass mortality (Lips et al 2006), to tolerance of subclinical infection (Garner et al 2006), and to resistance (Marquez et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THE AMPHIBIAN CHYTRID FUNGUS VARIES WITH ONTOGENY IN THE DIRECT-DEVELOPING FROG,ELEUTHERODACTYLUS COQUI

Langhammer

Burrowes

Lips

et al. 2014

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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ABSTRACT:Age-related differences in susceptibility to infectious disease are known from a wide variety of plant and animal taxonomic groups. For example, the immature immune systems of young vertebrates, along with limited prior exposure to pathogens and behavioral factors, can place juveniles at greater risk of acquiring and succumbing to a pathogen. We studied the ontogenetic susceptibility of terrestrial direct-developing frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) to the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which is responsible for the decline of amphibian species worldwide. By exposing juvenile and adult frogs to the same dose and strain of Bd, we uncovered ontogenetic differences in susceptibility. Froglets exposed to the pathogen had significantly lower survival rates compared with control froglets, while adult frogs largely cleared infection and had survival rates indistinguishable from control frogs, even when exposed to a much higher dose of Bd. The high disease-induced mortality rate of juveniles may explain ongoing population declines in eastern Puerto Rico, where Bd is endemic and juveniles experience higher prevalence and infection intensity compared to adults. Our results have important implications for understanding and modeling the decline, possibly to extinction, of amphibian populations and species.

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“…For example, North American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) have frequently become feral in South America, Europe and Japan, where they consistently carry Bd, with the potential to transmit the pathogen to endangered native anurans [94]. Although there is limited evidence that it has been effective, non-selective culling of bullfrogs to control Bd has been proposed [95]. Culling of grey squirrels, which are a reservoir for a pox virus that threatens red squirrel populations, has also been suggested as a strategy to maintain red squirrel populations [96].…”

Section: (A) Isolating Infected Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disease and the dynamics of extinction

McCallum

2012

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

131

122

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Invading infectious diseases can, in theory, lead to the extinction of host populations, particularly if reservoir species are present or if disease transmission is frequency-dependent. The number of historic or prehistoric extinctions that can unequivocally be attributed to infectious disease is relatively small, but gathering firm evidence in retrospect is extremely difficult. Amphibian chytridiomycosis and Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) are two very different infectious diseases that are currently threatening to cause extinctions in Australia. These provide an unusual opportunity to investigate the processes of disease-induced extinction and possible management strategies. Both diseases are apparently recent in origin. Tasmanian DFTD is entirely host-specific but potentially able to cause extinction because transmission depends weakly, if at all, on host density. Amphibian chytridiomycosis has a broad host range but is highly pathogenic only to some populations of some species. At present, both diseases can only be managed by attempting to isolate individuals or populations from disease. Management options to accelerate the process of evolution of host resistance or tolerance are being investigated in both cases. Anthropogenic changes including movement of diseases and hosts, habitat destruction and fragmentation and climate change are likely to increase emerging disease threats to biodiversity and it is critical to further develop strategies to manage these threats.

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The emerging amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis globally infects introduced populations of the North American bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

Cited by 277 publications

References 40 publications

Climate, vegetation, introduced hosts and trade shape a global wildlife pandemic

Climate, vegetation, introduced hosts and trade shape a global wildlife pandemic

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THE AMPHIBIAN CHYTRID FUNGUS VARIES WITH ONTOGENY IN THE DIRECT-DEVELOPING FROG,ELEUTHERODACTYLUS COQUI

Disease and the dynamics of extinction

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