Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans is the predominant chytrid fungus in Vietnamese salamanders

Abstract The infectious chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) has been responsible for severe population declines of salamander populations in Europe. Serious population declines and loss of urodelan diversity may occur if appropriate action is not taken to mitigate against the further spread and impact of Bsal. We provide an overview of several potential mitigation methods, and describe their possible advantages and limitations. We conclude that long-term, context-dependent, multi-faceted approaches are needed to successfully mitigate adverse effects of Bsal, and that these approaches should be initiated pre-arrival of the pathogen. The establishment of ex situ assurance colonies, or management units, for species threatened with extinction, should be considered as soon as possible. While ex situ conservation and preventive measures aimed at improving biosecurity by limiting amphibian trade may be implemented quickly, major challenges that lie ahead are in designing in situ disease containment and mitigation post-arrival and in increasing public awareness.

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Efficacy of chemical disinfectants for the containment of the salamander chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0186269 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. e0186269 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Pascale Van Rooij ◽

Frank Pasmans ◽

Yanaika Coen ◽

An Martel

Keyword(s):

Chytrid Fungus ◽

Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans

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Isolation and maintenance of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans cultures

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ◽

10.3354/dao03488 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 140 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

KA Robinson ◽

KE Pereira ◽

MC Bletz ◽

ED Carter ◽

MJ Gray ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skin Lesions ◽

Infected Tissue ◽

Laboratory Studies ◽

Chytrid Fungus ◽

Common Culture ◽

Growth Standard ◽

Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans ◽

Amphibian Pathogen

Discovered in 2013, the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is an emerging amphibian pathogen that causes ulcerative skin lesions and multifocal erosion. A closely related pathogen, B. dendrobatidis (Bd), has devastated amphibian populations worldwide, suggesting that Bsal poses a significant threat to global salamander biodiversity. To expedite research into this emerging threat, we seek to standardize protocols across the field so that results of laboratory studies are reproducible and comparable. We have collated data and experience from multiple labs to standardize culturing practices of Bsal. Here we outline common culture practices including a medium for standardized Bsal growth, standard culturing protocols, and a method for isolating Bsal from infected tissue.

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Salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans) in the United States—Developing research, monitoring, and management strategies

Open-File Report ◽

10.3133/ofr20151233 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Evan H. Campbell Grant ◽

Erin L. Muths ◽

Rachel A. Katz ◽

Stefano Canessa ◽

M.J. Adams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Management Strategies ◽

The United States ◽

Chytrid Fungus ◽

Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans

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Trade in wild anurans vectors the urodelan pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans into Europe

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685381-00003125 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 554-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Tao Thien Nguyen ◽

Thinh Van Nguyen ◽

Thomas Ziegler ◽

Frank Pasmans ◽

An Martel

Keyword(s):

Global Scale ◽

Chytrid Fungus ◽

Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans ◽

Pathogen Pollution

Pathogen pollution has caused dramatic losses of amphibian diversity on a global scale. The recently emerged chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) has been hypothesized to have its origin in Asian urodelan populations, from which it may have been introduced to Europe through the trade in live urodelans. We here show that Bsal is present on wild small-webbed fire-bellied toads (Bombina microdeladigitora) from Vietnam and on representatives of the same species that have recently been imported in Germany. This finding suggests that the installment of measures to mitigate the Bsal threat through the amphibian trade should not be limited to urodeles, but should equally take anurans into account.

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First detection of the emerging fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in Germany

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/15685381-00003008 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 411-416 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Joana Sabino-Pinto ◽

Molly Bletz ◽

Ralf Hendrix ◽

R.G. Bina Perl ◽

An Martel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infectious Disease ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Fungal Pathogen ◽

Amphibian Declines ◽

Chytrid Fungus ◽

Wild Populations ◽

Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans ◽

Fire Salamander ◽

Major Factors ◽

Salamander Species

The emerging infectious disease chytridiomycosis is one of the major factors triggering global amphibian declines. A recently discovered species of chytrid fungus,Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans(Bsal), likely originated in East Asia, has led to massive declines in populations of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) after its apparent introduction to the Netherlands and Belgium. Here, we report the first detection of this pathogen in Germany where it caused mass mortality of fire salamanders in a captive collection. Salamanders from this collection showed an almost 100% prevalence of infection withBsal. SupposedBsal-induced mortality occurred in multipleSalamandraspecies (S. salamandra,S. algira,S. corsica, andS. infraimmaculata), whileBsalinfection was confirmed in nine subspecies ofS. salamandraand inS. algira. Our study indicates that this pathogen can potentially infect all fire salamander species and subspecies. IfBsalspreads from captive collections to wild populations, then a similar devastating effect associated with high mortality should be expected.

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