 A DNA-based Assay Identifies Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis In Amphibians (PDF, 9 pp., 178.97 KB)
Description: Abstract: Chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Chytridiomycota) has been implicated in declines of amphibian populations on four continents. We have developed a sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction-based assay to detect this pathogen. We isolated B. dendrobatidis from captive and wild amphibians collected across North America and sequenced the internal transcribed spacer regions of the rDNA cassette of multiple isolates. This assay required only small samples of skin and can be used to process a large number of samples.
Resource Type: Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: James Cook University of Australia School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
A Rapid Technique to Detect Chytrid Infection in Adult Frogs (PDF, 3 pp., 302.32 KB)
Description: Problems with diagnostic methods for detecting Chytrid fungus led researchers to develop a rapid, cost-effective method for non-mycologists to distinguish clearly the chytrid fungus in frogs suspected of being infected with chytridiomycosis.
Resource Type: Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: James Cook University of Australia School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Broadly Distributed in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest (PDF, 8 pp., 237.74 KB)
Description: Abstract: To investigate the occurrence of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Brazil, we conducted histological screenings of 96 preserved specimens of anurans collected at 10 sites in the Atlantic rain forest. Data show this fungus to be widely distributed. Infected specimens included Colostethus olfersioides (Dendrobatidae), Bokermannohyla gouveai and Hypsiboas freicanecae (Hylidae), as well as Thoropa miliaris and Crossodactylus caramaschii (Leptodactylidae), extending the area of B. dendrobatidis occurrence in Brazil approximately 1,600 km N, 200 km S, and 270 km E. The altitudinal range of the chytrid is broad, spanning from less than 100 m to about 2,400 m (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia). Widespread occurrence of B. dendrobatidis in the Atlantic Forest adds to the challenge of conserving an already endangered biome given the potential risk of further local biodiversity loss.
Resource Type: Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: James Cook University of Australia School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
Amphibian Conservation Action Plan Proceedings: IUCN/SSC Amphibian Conservation Summit 2005 (PDF, 68 pp., 667.81 KB)
Description: Includes a foreward, summary of action steps, and chapters including designing a network of conservation sites for amphibians; freshwater resources and associated terrestrial landscapes; climate change, biodiversity loss, and amphibian declines, infectious diseases, over-harvesting; evaluating the role of environmental contamination in amphibian population declines; captive programs; genome resource banking; reintroductions; the continuing need for assessments: making the global amphibian assessment an ongoing process; systematics and conservation; bioresource banking efforts in support of amphibian conservation; references; declaration to the amphibian conservation summit, and appendices.
Resource Type: Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: San Fransisco State University, Environmental Studies Program |
Amphibian Diseases
Description: This fact sheet addresses the recent, alarming rates of mortality in both common and threatened populations of amphibians in several states due to diseases, specifically, the chytrid fungus and iridoviruses.
Resource Type: Fact Sheets
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: United States Geological Survey |
Amphibian Diseases Home Page
Description: A comprehensive resource on the chytrid fungus and its impacts on amphibian populations, with an emphasis on Australia. In addition, this site provides an international directory of amphibian disease experts, scholarly articles, and a thorough bibliography of resources on amphibian diseases.
Resource Type: Bibliographies and Web Indexes, Issue Overviews
Resource Format: URL
Publisher: Environment Australia |
Amphibian Pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Is Inhibited by the Cutaneous Bacteria of Amphibian Species (PDF, 4 pp., 161.21 KB)
Description: Abstract: Population declines of amphibian species in many parts of the world are associated with a lethal fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Using laboratory challenge assays, we describe the inhibition of B. dendrobatidis by members of eight genera of bacteria isolated from the skin of two amphibian species that exhibit parental care behavior (Plethodon cinereus and Hemidactylium scutatum). We found that members of three genera of bacteria isolated from the skins of the salamander P. cinereus and members of seven genera isolated from the salamander H. scutatum inhibited the growth of B. dendrobatidis. Understanding how B. dendrobatidis interacts with an ecological community of cutaneous flora may be important in explaining and preventing amphibian population declines.
Resource Type: Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: James Cook University of Australia School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
Amphibian population declines in montane southern Mexico: resurveys of historical localities (PDF, 10 pp., 359.11 KB)
Description: Declines of amphibian populations are well documented in the US, Canada, and Central America, but less is known of amphibian populations in Mexico. In 2000, we surveyed 43 transects from 3 upland regions in Guerrero and Oaxaca, Mexico. We found 161 adult amphibians belonging to 39 species, representing only 19-48% of the anuran fauna known from these regions. We found one dead and one dying frog from two different streams near Chilpancingo, Guerrero. Both frogs were infected with Batrachochytridium dendrobatidis, a pathogenic fungus involved in other declines of amphibian populations. We collected 368 tadpoles; 60 (19%) tadpoles from 9 different streams among the three regions were missing mouthparts, which is indicative of infection by chytrid fungus. We report from Chiapas, Mexico as well. Overall, we report 31 populations (24 species) that appear to have been extirpated, including populations of as many as 11 endemic species that have been missing for 16-40 years and may be extinct.
Resource Type: Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: James Cook University of Australia School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
Analysis of climatic and geographic factors affecting the presence of chytridiomycosis in Australia (PDF, 6 pp., 108.69 KB)
Description: In this investigation, the relationship between altitude, average summer maximum temperature, or the amount of rainfall and the presence or absence of chytridiomycosis are statistically tested using data from 56 study sites in Australia. Currently, in Australia, 48 native species of wild amphibians have been found infected with chytridiomycosis. The 56 sites in the present study, extending along approximately 50% of the coastline of Australia, have been identified as either a chytrid site, where greater than or equal to 1 species are infected with chytridiomycosis, or a no-decline site, where none of the species present at the site are experiencing a decline or are known to be infected.
Resource Type: Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: James Cook University of Australia School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
Aquatic Chytrid Pathogen Detected in Terrestrial Plethodontid Salamander (PDF, 2 pp., 115.26 KB)
Description: Chytridiomycosis is responsible for amphibian declines and possible extinctions. We observed a chytrid fungus infection through histological examination in wild-caught terrestrial Jemez Mountains Salamander.
Resource Type: Journal Articles
Resource Format: PDF
Publisher: James Cook University of Australia School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine |
