Emerging Pathogen of Wild Amphibians in Frogs (<i>Rana catesbeiana</i>) Farmed for International Trade

Mazzoni, Rolando; Cunningham, Andrew A.; Daszak, Peter; Apolo, Ada; Perdomo, Eugenio; Speranza, Gustavo

doi:10.3201/eid0908.030030

Cited by 148 publications

(148 citation statements)

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“…Although wild frogs collected from Finley Lake showed evidence of significant Bd lesions, strongly implicating chytridiomycosis as the cause of mortality (Clifford et al 2012), it remains possible that additional unidentified factors contributed to disease progression. In another American bullfrog mass mortality event contemporaneous with Bd infection in the population, environmental stressors, such as temperature, were posited to have contributed to disease outbreak (Mazzoni et al 2003). At Finley Lake, poor host body condition, low temperatures that favor Bd and limit host immune competence (Eskew and Todd 2013), or some unmeasured environmental factor may have served to exacerbate disease given that our experimental results suggest FL Bd is not especially virulent in this host.…”

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confidence: 86%

“…If American bullfrogs commonly clear themselves of Bd infection or avoid infection altogether as a result of resistance mechanisms, then bullfrogs are less likely to be important Bd carriers as is often suggested (Mazzoni et al 2003;Daszak et al 2004;Hanselmann et al 2004;Garner et al 2006;Schloegel et al 2010). In contrast, if American bullfrogs do commonly become infected with Bd but have mechanisms that allow them to tolerate infection or if they shed heavily infected skin tissues as in Greenspan et al (2012a), then they may indeed contribute disproportionately to interspecific Bd transmission within amphibian communities.…”

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confidence: 93%

“…For example, there is evidence for Bd-associated disease in American bullfrogs in food production settings (Mazzoni et al 2003) and after exposure to specific Bd isolates (Gervasi et al 2013b). Furthermore, a recent report from Finley Lake in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California also attributed mass mortality of wild American bullfrogs to chytridiomycosis (Clifford et al 2012).…”

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confidence: 99%

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American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) Resist Infection by Multiple Isolates of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Including One Implicated in Wild Mass Mortality

et al. 2015

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The emerging amphibian disease chytridiomycosis varies in severity depending on host species.Within species, disease susceptibility can also be influenced by pathogen variation and environmental factors.Here, we report on experimental exposures of American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) to three different isolates of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), including one implicated in causing mass mortality of wild American bullfrogs. Exposed frogs showed low infection prevalence, relatively low infection load, and lack of clinical disease. Our results suggest that environmental cofactors are likely important contributors to Bdassociated American bullfrog mortality and that this species both resists and tolerates Bd infection.

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confidence: 86%

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confidence: 93%

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confidence: 99%

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American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) Resist Infection by Multiple Isolates of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Including One Implicated in Wild Mass Mortality

et al. 2015

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“…Some authors argue that both mechanisms contribute to the existing distribution of presence, prevalence and disease (Goka et al 2009;Walker et al 2010) but the fundamental question regarding introduction remains valid, as efforts to mitigate disease may differ based on whether a pathogen is introduced or not. Evidence in support of introduction includes the presence of infection in commercially traded amphibian species both at source and in invasive populations (Mazzoni et al 2003;Weldon et al 2004;Fisher & Garner 2007). Africa is considered a potential source of the original Bd vector (Xenopus spp.…”

Section: What Can Be Said About the Origin Of Bd In Italy?mentioning

confidence: 99%

The pandemic pathogen of amphibians,Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis(Phylum Chytridiomycota), in Italy

Tessa

Angelini²,

Bielby

et al. 2013

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Worldwide amphibian declines and species losses are global problems and emerging infectious diseases have been identified as one of the major threats. The worst of these is chytridiomycosis, an amphibian disease caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Here we review what is known of the distribution of Bd and chytridiomycosis in Italy. We critically summarize the evidence in support of the hypothesis that Bd is an invasive pathogen in Italy. Last we provide recommendations for immediate research needs, both for basic science and applied conservation.

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“…At least 3 amphibian orders, Anura, Caudata and Gymnophiona, have been diagnosed with chytridiomycosis (Boyle et al 2004, Churgin et al 2013. Bd has been identified in zoo collections (Pessier et al 1999), the pet trade (Mutschmann et al 2000), the food trade (Mazzoni 2003) and the laboratory animal trade (Parker et al 2002). The pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of Bd-infected amphibians have recently been reviewed (Baitchman & Pessier 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chytridiomycosis in dwarf African frogs Hymenochirus curtipes

2015

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Chytridiomycosis, resulting from an infection with the fungal agent Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has resulted in widespread population declines in both wild and captive amphibians. The dwarf African frog (DAF) Hymenochirus curtipes is native to central Africa and is commonly sold throughout North America as an aquarium pet species. Here we document fatal chytridiomycosis resulting from cutaneous Bd infections in DAF purchased directly from a pet store and from a historical lethal epizootic occurring at an aquaculture facility in central California, USA, more than 25 yr ago. Histological lesions and PCR-amplified sequence data were consistent with the etiology of Bd. The potential epidemiological relevance of this infection in DAF is discussed. KEY WORDS: Frog · Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis · Bd · Hymenochirus · ChytridiomycosisResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher Dis Aquat Org 114: 69-75, 2015 during the 20th century resulted in worldwide dissemination of the chytridiomycete fungal agent (Weldon et al. 2004). Multiple states in the USA now require a permit to purchase ACF. ACF (X. laevis) in the wild do not demonstrate clinical signs of chytridiomycosis, and sudden die-offs of ACF have not been documented (Weldon et al. 2004). However, subclinical infections with Bd have been well documented in captive Xenopus laevis (Reed et al. 2000). In contrast, Bd infection in the related ACF X. tropicalis can result in anorexia and lethargy, cutaneous pigment changes, loss of the cutaneous slime layer and death (Parker et al. 2002). In a survey of archived specimens of 3 different species of Xenopus from 1879 to 1999, the earliest case of chytridiomycosis was found in a Xenopus laevis frog in 1938 (Weldon et al. 2004). This fungal pathogen apparently existed as a stable endemic infection in southern Africa for at least 23 yr before any Bd-infected specimens ap peared outside of Africa (Weldon et al. 2004).Dwarf African frogs are small aquatic frogs native to central Africa that lack both teeth and a tongue and are completely aquatic. Otto Boettger, one of the dwarf African frog discoverers, originally named them African dwarf clawed frogs in recognition of the small black claws on their hind legs. Since these claws are often lost as the frogs mature, these animals are now more commonly re ferred to as dwarf African frogs. There are currently 4 recognized species of Hymenochirus: H. boulengeri, H. curtipes, H. boettgeri, and H. feae (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, www.iucnredlist.org). Currently, there is some controversy over the taxonomic status of H. feae. Both H. boettgeri and H. curtipes are commonly sold in the pet trade. As these animals look very similar to one another, the morphological separation between these 2 species can be challenging. In addition, these frogs are capable of interbreeding and forming hy brids; as a result, some breeders feel that the DAF sold in the pet trade are actually a H. boettgeri × H. curtipes hybrid.The peer-reviewe...

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Emerging Pathogen of Wild Amphibians in Frogs (Rana catesbeiana) Farmed for International Trade

Cited by 148 publications

References 15 publications

American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) Resist Infection by Multiple Isolates of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Including One Implicated in Wild Mass Mortality

American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) Resist Infection by Multiple Isolates of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Including One Implicated in Wild Mass Mortality

The pandemic pathogen of amphibians,Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis(Phylum Chytridiomycota), in Italy

Chytridiomycosis in dwarf African frogs Hymenochirus curtipes

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