scholarly journals Inhibition of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Caused by Bacteria Isolated from the Skin of Boreal Toads, Anaxyrus (Bufo) boreas boreas, from Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. MBI.S13639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawna T. Park ◽  
Amanda M. Collingwood ◽  
Sophie St-Hilaire ◽  
Peter P. Sheridan
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Bacterial Isolates ◽  
Skin Microbiota ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Bufo Boreas ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Boreal Toads

The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a significant cause of the worldwide decline in amphibian populations; however, various amphibian species are capable of coexisting with B. dendrobatidis. Among them are boreal toads ( Anaxyrus ( Bufo) boreas boreas) located in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) in Wyoming, USA. The purpose of this study was to identify cultivable bacterial isolates from the skin microbiota of boreal toads from GTNP and determine if they were capable of inhibiting B. dendrobatidis in vitro, and therefore might be a factor in the toad's coexistence with this pathogen. Isolates from 6 of 21 genera tested were found to inhibit the growth of B. dendrobatidis. These bacteria represent diverse lineages such as the Gammaproteobacteria, the Betaproteobacteria, and the Bacteroidetes/Chlorobium groups. We propose that these bacteria compete via microbial antagonism with B. dendrobatidis.

Experimental Exposures of Boreal Toads (Bufo boreas) to a Pathogenic Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis)

EcoHealth ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Carey ◽  
Judsen E. Bruzgul ◽  
Lauren J. Livo ◽  
Margie L. Walling ◽  
Kristin A. Kuehl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Bufo Boreas ◽  
Boreal Toads

scholarly journals The Effect of Aquatic and Terrestrial Environmental Factors on the Interaction Between Grand Teton Boreal Toads and a Lethal Fungal Pathogen

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 125-131
Author(s):  
Peter Murphy ◽  
Sophie St-Hilaire ◽  
Charles Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Amphibian Skin ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
American Bullfrog ◽  
The North ◽  
S 100 ◽  
Boreal Toads

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the chytrid fungus which infects keratinized amphibian skin and causes the lethal disease chytridiomycosis, has been linked to population declines and extinctions worldwide (Lips et al. 2006). Amphibians infected with Bd may suffer a variety of outcomes. Individuals of some species have been killed by :S 100 Bd zoospores, while other species, such as the North American bullfrog Rana catesbiana, are highly resistant (Daszak et al. 2004). Within an amphibian species, populations may also respond differently to Bd, with some declining et al. remaining stable (Kriger and Hero 2006). Divergent outcomes among species and populations with respect to Bd may arise from at least three factors, or their interaction.

scholarly journals Establishement of a national monitoring program based on environmental DNA for amphibians and the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis     

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omneya Osman ◽  
Johan Andersson ◽  
Tomas Larsson ◽  
Mats Töpel ◽  
Alexander Eiler
Keyword(s):  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
National Level ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Rana Arvalis ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
National Monitoring ◽  
Wide Range

National monitoring programs provide the basis for evaluating the integrity of ecosystems, their responses to disturbances, and the success of actions taken to conserve or recover biodiversity. In this study, we successfully established a national program for the invasive chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) based on dual TaqMan assays. Amphibian diversity based on metabarcoding of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene was also performed. Assays were optimized for sensitive detection of target species from a wide range of amphibian ponds with variable potential of inhibitions for eDNA based detection. An amphibian mock community of 5 species was used to validate the metabarcoding approach while internal standards were used in the case of the dual TaqMan assays. First sampling of over 170 ponds in Norway resulted in Bd detection in 12 environmental samples and one swab sample taken over multiple years indicating the establishment of Bd in Norway. Five amphibian species Bufo bufo, Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus cristatus, Rana arvalis and Rana temporaria as predicted from data in long-term citizen science reporting systems were widely detected in the collected eDNA samples. Our large scale-monitoring program indicates a low risk of a Bd outbreak and amphibian decline caused by chytridiomycosis but continued monitoring is recommended in the future. These findings indicate that eDNA is an effective method to detect invasive species, and to monitor endangered amphibian species. Still, several shortcomings (such as PCR inhibitors and sample volume) were identified that need to be addressed to improve eDNA-based monitoring at the national level.

scholarly journals Amphibian chytridiomycosis, a lethal pandemic disease caused by the killer fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: New approaches to host defense mechanisms and techniques for detection and monitoring

Bionatura ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1628-1636
Author(s):  
Génesis L. Romero-Zambrano ◽  
Stalin A. Bermúdez-Puga ◽  
Alex F. Sánchez-Yumbo ◽  
Jomira K. Yánez-Galarza ◽  
H. Mauricio Ortega-Andrade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Skin Microbiota ◽  
Climatic Effects ◽  
Detection Techniques ◽  
Catastrophic Disease ◽  
Anti Fungal

Chytridiomycosis is a catastrophic disease currently decimating worldwide amphibian populations, caused by the panzootic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Massive species decline to extinction catalyzes radical changes in ecosystems globally, including the largest continuous rainforest ecosystem on Earth, the Amazon rainforest. Innovative research that aims to propose feasible mechanisms of mitigation and the origins of the disease is vital, including studies addressing climatic effects on the expansion of chytridiomycosis. Thus, this publication aims to provide a comprehensive review of: i) the current technologies used for B. dendrobatidis detection and monitoring, and ii) the known Neotropical amphibian's skin microbiota with anti-fungal properties against B. dendrobatidis. Several immunologic and DNA-based methods are discussed to understand the emerging fungal pathogens and their effects on the biosphere, which can help to mitigate the devastating ecological impacts of mass amphibian morbidity. The establishment of rapid and highly accurate B. dendrobatidis detection techniques and methods for monitoring amphibian's cutaneous microbiome is crucial in the fight against chytridiomycosis.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Local Immune Responses by the Frog-Killing Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

2014 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 4698-4706 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Scott Fites ◽  
Laura K. Reinert ◽  
Timothy M. Chappell ◽  
Louise A. Rollins-Smith
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Single Injection ◽  
Delayed Type Hypersensitivity ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Secondary Injection

ABSTRACTAmphibians are suffering unprecedented global declines. A leading cause is the infectious disease chytridiomycosis caused by the chytrid fungusBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Chytridiomycosis is a skin disease which disrupts transport of essential ions leading to death. Soluble factors produced byB. dendrobatidisimpair amphibian and mammalian lymphocytesin vitro, but previous studies have not shown the effects of these inhibitory factorsin vivo. To demonstratein vivoinhibition of immunity byB. dendrobatidis, a modified delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) protocol was developed to induce innate and adaptive inflammatory swelling in the feet ofXenopus laevisby injection of killed bacteria or phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Compared to previous protocols for PHA injection in amphibians, this method induced up to 20-fold greater inflammatory swelling. Using this new protocol, we measured DTH responses induced by killed bacteria or PHA in the presence ofB. dendrobatidissupernatants. Swelling induced by single injection of PHA or killed bacteria was not significantly affected byB. dendrobatidissupernatants. However, swelling caused by a secondary injection of PHA, was significantly reduced byB. dendrobatidissupernatants. As previously describedin vitro, factors fromB. dendrobatidisappear to inhibit lymphocyte-mediated inflammatory swelling but not swelling caused by an inducer of innate leukocytes. This suggests thatB. dendrobatidisis capable of inhibiting lymphocytes in a localized response to prevent adaptive immune responses in the skin. The modified protocol used to induce inflammatory swelling in the present study may be more effective than previous methods to investigate amphibian immune competence, particularly in nonmodel species.

scholarly journals Mosquitoes as a potential vector for the transmission of the amphibian chytrid fungus

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Gould ◽  
Jose W. Valdez ◽  
Michelle P. Stockwell ◽  
Simon Clulow ◽  
Michael J. Mahony
Keyword(s):  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Agar Plate ◽  
Insect Host ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Potential Vector ◽  
Amphibian Chytrid Fungus ◽  
And Control ◽  
Zoospore Suspension

The amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an infectious disease responsible for the worldwide decline of amphibian species. To mitigate these declines, it is necessary to identify the various vectors by which the fungus can be transmitted between individuals and populations. The objective of this study was to determine whether adult female mosquitoes can carry and transfer Bd fungal cells. Mosquitoes were exposed to netting soaked in a live Bd zoospore suspension to determine whether they are able to externally acquire the fungus. Another group was placed into containers with a sterile and Bd-inoculated agar plate to determine whether mosquitoes could transfer Bd between these surfaces. Bd DNA was found to be present on mosquito legs exposed to inoculated netting and agar plates suggesting that Bd can be transmitted by the mosquito over short distances. This is the first study to demonstrate that an insect host may be a mechanical vector of Bd and suggests that we should begin to consider the role of mosquitoes in the dissemination and control of the fungus.

scholarly journals Single infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis or Ranavirus does not increase probability of co-infection in a montane community of amphibians

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Bosch ◽  
Camino Monsalve-Carcaño ◽  
Stephen J. Price ◽  
Jon Bielby
Keyword(s):  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Single Infection ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Amphibian Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Common Situation

AbstractUnderstanding the occurrence and consequence of co-infections can be useful in designing disease management interventions. Amphibians are the most highly threatened vertebrates, and emerging pathogens are a serious threat to their conservation. The amphibian chytrid fungus and the viruses of the Ranavirus genus are already widely distributed, causing disease outbreaks and population declines worldwide. However, we lack information about the occurrence and consequences of coinfection with these pathogens across age-classes of amphibian hosts. Here, we analyze the occurrence of infection of the amphibian chytrid fungus and ranaviruses during one season in two susceptible amphibian species at two different locations at which outbreaks have occurred. We found that the co-occurrence of both pathogens in a particular host is not common except in highly susceptible life-stages, and that single infections are the most common situation. Moreover, we found that the occurrence of one pathogen in a particular host did not predict the occurrence of the other. We attribute these results to the niches in which both pathogens proliferate in amphibian hosts.

scholarly journals Mosquitoes as a Potential Vector for the Transmission of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Gould ◽  
Jose Valdez ◽  
Michelle Stockwell ◽  
Simon Clulow ◽  
Michael Mahony
Keyword(s):  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
Agar Plate ◽  
Insect Host ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Potential Vector ◽  
Amphibian Chytrid Fungus ◽  
And Control ◽  
Zoospore Suspension

The amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an infectious disease responsible for the worldwide decline of amphibian species. To mitigate these declines, it is necessary to identify the various vectors by which the fungus can be transmitted between individuals and populations. The objective of this study was to determine whether adult female mosquitoes can carry and transfer Bd fungal cells. Mosquitoes were exposed to net soaked in a live Bd zoospore suspension to determine whether they are able to externally acquire the fungus. Another group was placed into containers with a sterile and Bd-inoculated agar plate to determine whether mosquitoes could transfer Bd between these surfaces. Bd DNA was found to be present on mosquito legs exposed to inoculated netting and agar plates suggesting that Bd can be transmitted by the mosquito over short distances This is the first study to demonstrate that an insect host may be a mechanical vector of Bd and suggests that we should begin to consider the role of mosquitoes in the dissemination and control of the fungus.

scholarly journals Host Species is Linked to Pathogen Genotype for the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Q Byrne ◽  
Anthony W Waddle ◽  
Veronica Saenz ◽  
Michel Ohmer ◽  
Jef R Jaeger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ancestral Population ◽  
Chytrid Fungus ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Host Pathogen ◽  
Amphibian Chytrid Fungus

Host-pathogen specificity can arise from certain selective environments mediated by both the host and pathogen. Therefore, understanding the degree to which host species identity is correlated with pathogen genotype can help reveal historical host-pathogen dynamics. One animal disease of particular concern is chytridiomycosis, typically caused by the global panzootic lineage of the amphibian chytrid fungus ( Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , Bd), termed the Bd-GPL. This pathogen lineage has caused devastating declines in amphibian communities around the world. However, the origin of Bd-GPL and the fine-scale transmission dynamics of this lineage have remained a mystery. This is especially the case in North America where Bd-GPL is widespread, but disease outbreaks occur sporadically. Herein, we use Bd genetic data collected throughout the United States from amphibian skin swab and cultured isolate samples to investigate Bd genetic patterns. We highlight two case studies in Pennsylvania and Nevada where Bd-GPL genotypes are strongly correlated with host species identity. Specifically, in some localities bullfrogs ( Rana catesbeiana ) are infected with Bd-GPL lineages that are distinct from those infecting other sympatric amphibian species. Overall, we reveal a previously unknown association of Bd genotype with host species and identify the eastern United States as a Bd diversity hotspot and potential ancestral population for Bd-GPL.

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