Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection and Lethal Chytridiomycosis in Caecilian Amphibians (Gymnophiona)

David J. Gower; Thomas Doherty-Bone; Simon P. Loader; Mark Wilkinson; Marcel T. Kouete; Benjamin Tapley; Frances Orton; Olivia Z. Daniel; Felicity Wynne; Edmund Flach; Hendrik Mueller; Michele Menegon; Ian Stephen; Robert K. Browne; Mathew C. Fisher; Andrew A. Cunningham; Trenton W. J. Garner

doi:10.1007/s10393-013-0831-9

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection and Lethal Chytridiomycosis in Caecilian Amphibians (Gymnophiona)

David J. Gower, Thomas Doherty-Bone, Simon P. Loader, Mark Wilkinson, Marcel T. Kouete, Benjamin Tapley, Frances Orton, Olivia Z. Daniel, Felicity Wynne, Edmund Flach, Hendrik Mueller, Michele Menegon, Ian Stephen, Robert K. Browne, Mathew C. Fisher, Andrew A. Cunningham, Trenton W. J. Garner

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is commonly termed the ‘amphibian chytrid fungus’ but thus far has been documented to be a pathogen of only batrachian amphibians (anurans and caudatans). It is not proven to infect the limbless, generally poorly known, and mostly soil-dwelling caecilians (Gymnophiona). We conducted the largest qPCR survey of Bd in caecilians to date, for more than 200 field-swabbed specimens from five countries in Africa and South America, representing nearly 20 species, 12 genera, and 8 families. Positive results were recovered for 58 specimens from Tanzania and Cameroon (4 families, 6 genera, 6+ species). Quantities of Bd were not exceptionally high, with genomic equivalent (GE) values of 0.052–17.339. In addition, we report the first evidence of lethal chytridiomycosis in caecilians. Mortality in captive (wild-caught, commercial pet trade) Geotrypetes seraphini was associated with GE scores similar to those we detected for field-swabbed, wild animals.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	173-183
Journal	EcoHealth
Volume	10
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-013-0831-9
Publication status	Published - Jun 2013
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Africa
Anura
Batrachia
Caudata
chytrid
pet trade
South America

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10.1007/s10393-013-0831-9

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Gower, D. J., Doherty-Bone, T., Loader, S. P., Wilkinson, M., Kouete, M. T., Tapley, B., Orton, F., Daniel, O. Z., Wynne, F., Flach, E., Mueller, H., Menegon, M., Stephen, I., Browne, R. K., Fisher, M. C., Cunningham, A. A., & Garner, T. W. J. (2013). Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection and Lethal Chytridiomycosis in Caecilian Amphibians (Gymnophiona). EcoHealth, 10(2), 173-183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-013-0831-9

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title = "Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection and Lethal Chytridiomycosis in Caecilian Amphibians (Gymnophiona)",

abstract = "Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is commonly termed the {\textquoteleft}amphibian chytrid fungus{\textquoteright} but thus far has been documented to be a pathogen of only batrachian amphibians (anurans and caudatans). It is not proven to infect the limbless, generally poorly known, and mostly soil-dwelling caecilians (Gymnophiona). We conducted the largest qPCR survey of Bd in caecilians to date, for more than 200 field-swabbed specimens from five countries in Africa and South America, representing nearly 20 species, 12 genera, and 8 families. Positive results were recovered for 58 specimens from Tanzania and Cameroon (4 families, 6 genera, 6+ species). Quantities of Bd were not exceptionally high, with genomic equivalent (GE) values of 0.052–17.339. In addition, we report the first evidence of lethal chytridiomycosis in caecilians. Mortality in captive (wild-caught, commercial pet trade) Geotrypetes seraphini was associated with GE scores similar to those we detected for field-swabbed, wild animals.",

keywords = "Africa, Anura, Batrachia, Caudata, chytrid, pet trade, South America",

author = "Gower, {David J.} and Thomas Doherty-Bone and Loader, {Simon P.} and Mark Wilkinson and Kouete, {Marcel T.} and Benjamin Tapley and Frances Orton and Daniel, {Olivia Z.} and Felicity Wynne and Edmund Flach and Hendrik Mueller and Michele Menegon and Ian Stephen and Browne, {Robert K.} and Fisher, {Mathew C.} and Cunningham, {Andrew A.} and Garner, {Trenton W. J.}",

year = "2013",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1007/s10393-013-0831-9",

language = "English",

volume = "10",

pages = "173--183",

journal = "EcoHealth",

issn = "1612-9202",

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Gower, DJ, Doherty-Bone, T, Loader, SP, Wilkinson, M, Kouete, MT, Tapley, B, Orton, F, Daniel, OZ, Wynne, F, Flach, E, Mueller, H, Menegon, M, Stephen, I, Browne, RK, Fisher, MC, Cunningham, AA & Garner, TWJ 2013, 'Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection and Lethal Chytridiomycosis in Caecilian Amphibians (Gymnophiona)', EcoHealth, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 173-183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-013-0831-9

TY - JOUR

T1 - Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection and Lethal Chytridiomycosis in Caecilian Amphibians (Gymnophiona)

AU - Gower, David J.

AU - Doherty-Bone, Thomas

AU - Loader, Simon P.

AU - Wilkinson, Mark

AU - Kouete, Marcel T.

AU - Tapley, Benjamin

AU - Orton, Frances

AU - Daniel, Olivia Z.

AU - Wynne, Felicity

AU - Flach, Edmund

AU - Mueller, Hendrik

AU - Menegon, Michele

AU - Stephen, Ian

AU - Browne, Robert K.

AU - Fisher, Mathew C.

AU - Cunningham, Andrew A.

AU - Garner, Trenton W. J.

PY - 2013/6

Y1 - 2013/6

N2 - Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is commonly termed the ‘amphibian chytrid fungus’ but thus far has been documented to be a pathogen of only batrachian amphibians (anurans and caudatans). It is not proven to infect the limbless, generally poorly known, and mostly soil-dwelling caecilians (Gymnophiona). We conducted the largest qPCR survey of Bd in caecilians to date, for more than 200 field-swabbed specimens from five countries in Africa and South America, representing nearly 20 species, 12 genera, and 8 families. Positive results were recovered for 58 specimens from Tanzania and Cameroon (4 families, 6 genera, 6+ species). Quantities of Bd were not exceptionally high, with genomic equivalent (GE) values of 0.052–17.339. In addition, we report the first evidence of lethal chytridiomycosis in caecilians. Mortality in captive (wild-caught, commercial pet trade) Geotrypetes seraphini was associated with GE scores similar to those we detected for field-swabbed, wild animals.

AB - Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is commonly termed the ‘amphibian chytrid fungus’ but thus far has been documented to be a pathogen of only batrachian amphibians (anurans and caudatans). It is not proven to infect the limbless, generally poorly known, and mostly soil-dwelling caecilians (Gymnophiona). We conducted the largest qPCR survey of Bd in caecilians to date, for more than 200 field-swabbed specimens from five countries in Africa and South America, representing nearly 20 species, 12 genera, and 8 families. Positive results were recovered for 58 specimens from Tanzania and Cameroon (4 families, 6 genera, 6+ species). Quantities of Bd were not exceptionally high, with genomic equivalent (GE) values of 0.052–17.339. In addition, we report the first evidence of lethal chytridiomycosis in caecilians. Mortality in captive (wild-caught, commercial pet trade) Geotrypetes seraphini was associated with GE scores similar to those we detected for field-swabbed, wild animals.

KW - Africa

KW - Anura

KW - Batrachia

KW - Caudata

KW - chytrid

KW - pet trade

KW - South America

U2 - 10.1007/s10393-013-0831-9

DO - 10.1007/s10393-013-0831-9

M3 - Article

SN - 1612-9202

VL - 10

SP - 173

EP - 183

JO - EcoHealth

JF - EcoHealth

IS - 2

ER -

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection and Lethal Chytridiomycosis in Caecilian Amphibians (Gymnophiona)

Abstract

Keywords

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