Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
is the chytridiomycete fungus which has been implicated in global amphibian declines and numerous species extinctions. Here, we show that introduced North American bullfrogs (
Rana catesbeiana
) consistently carry this emerging pathogenic fungus. We detected infections by this fungus on introduced bullfrogs from seven of eight countries using both PCR and microscopic techniques. Only native bullfrogs from eastern Canada and introduced bullfrogs from Japan showed no sign of infection. The bullfrog is the most commonly farmed amphibian, and escapes and subsequent establishment of feral populations regularly occur. These factors taken together with our study suggest that the global threat of
B. dendrobatidis
disease transmission posed by bullfrogs is significant.
Experimental infection of North American plethodontid salamanders with the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis