Historical dynamics of <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> in Amazonia

Becker, C. Guilherme; Rodríguez, David; Lambertini, Carolina; Toledo, Luı́s Felipe; Haddad, Célio F. B.

doi:10.1111/ecog.02055

Cited by 40 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…These results, combined with a recent report of lethal chytridiomycosis in wild-caught caecilians (Gower et al 2013), indicate that Gymno phiona are potentially experiencing silent population declines in the wild due to Bd. Spatial regressions are also consistent with the observed associations between macroclimate and Bd infection in anuran species (Becker & Zamudio 2011, James et al 2015, Becker et al 2016. Specifically, we detected a positive effect of precipitation and a negative effect of temperature variables on the likelihood of Bd infection in caecilian hosts.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Although most of the Bdpositive records overlapped with reported areas of high climatic suitability for the fungus in the Neotropics (Rödder et al 2009, Liu et al 2012, James et al 2015, Becker et al 2016, several Bd-positive records extend far into areas of poor suitability for Bd in anurans (e.g. central Amazon: see Becker et al 2016). Our data points to widespread Bd infections in Neotropical caecilians, and that this taxon may serve as an environmental reservoir, perhaps because hosts are able to avoid harsh seasonal extremes where Bd would otherwise not persist yearround.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Service layer source: US National Park Service (Rödder et al 2009, Liu et al 2012, James et al 2015, Becker et al 2016. Although most of the Bdpositive records overlapped with reported areas of high climatic suitability for the fungus in the Neotropics (Rödder et al 2009, Liu et al 2012, James et al 2015, Becker et al 2016, several Bd-positive records extend far into areas of poor suitability for Bd in anurans (e.g. central Amazon: see Becker et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Retrospective sampling of museum specimens has been widely used to determine historical dynamics of Bd across space and time (Weldon et al 2004, Ouellet et al 2005, Soto-Azat et al 2010, Cheng et al 2011, Rodriguez et al 2014, Courtois et al 2015, Talley et al 2015, Becker et al 2016. We swabbed individual specimens on the head, anal disc, and dorsal and ventral surfaces with a single swab per individual, following Rendle et al (2015), and stored each sample in a 1.5 ml dry sterile tube.…”

Section: Bd Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Infection prevalence and zoospore loads are often positively correlated with elevation (Brem & Lips 2008, Gründler et al 2012, Catenazzi et al 2013), vegetation density (Puschendorf et al 2009, Becker & Zamudio 2011, Becker et al 2016, and preci pitation (Becker & Zamudio 2011), and negatively correlated with temperature (Becker & Zamudio 2011, Ruggeri et al 2015, Becker et al 2016. Because most caecilians are fossorial, they are likely exposed to lower microclimatic fluctuations dictated by land cover, insolation, and humidity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in South American caecilians

Lambertini

Becker²,

Bardier³

et al. 2017

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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The amphibian-killing fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is linked to population declines in anurans and salamanders globally. To date, however, few studies have attempted to screen Bd in live caecilians; Bd-positive caecilians have only been reported in Africa and French Guiana. Here, we performed a retrospective survey of museum preserved specimens to (1) describe spatial patterns of Bd infection in Gymnophiona across South America and (2) test whether areas of low climatic suitability for Bd in anurans predict Bd spatial epidemiology in caecilians. We used quantitative PCR to detect Bd in preserved caecilians collected over a 109 yr period, and performed autologistic regressions to test the effect of bioclimatic metrics of temperature and precipitation, vegetation density, and elevation on the likelihood of Bd occurrence. We detected an overall Bd prevalence of 12.4%, with positive samples spanning the Uruguayan savanna, Brazil's Atlantic Forest, and the Amazon basin. Our autologistic models detected a strong effect of macroclimate, a weaker effect of vegetation density, and no effect of elevation on the likelihood of Bd occurrence. Although most of our Bd-positive records overlapped with reported areas of high climatic suitability for the fungus in the Neotropics, many of our new Bd-positive samples extend far into areas of poor suitability for Bd in anurans. Our results highlight an important gap in the study of amphibian chytridiomycosis: the potential negative impact of Bd on Neotropical caecilians and the hypothetical role of caecilians as Bd reservoirs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Bd Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Spatial distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in South American caecilians

Lambertini

Becker²,

Bardier³

et al. 2017

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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Leveraging preserved specimens of Nerodia to infer the spatiotemporal dynamics of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola via quantitative polymerase chain reaction

Harding

Moretta‐Urdiales

Nordmeyer

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

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Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo) is a fungal pathogen and the causative agent of ophidiomycosis that has affected multiple snake taxa across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Ophidiomycosis has often been referred to as an emerging infectious disease (EID); however, its status as an EID has recently come under debate. Oo infections have been confirmed in wild snake populations in Texas; however, it is unknown if the pathogen is novel (i.e., invasive) or endemic to the state. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted surveys for Oo among preserved Nerodia deposited at three university museums in Texas. First, we visually assessed snakes for signs of infection (SOI), and if SOI were present, we sampled the affected area. We then used quantitative polymerase chain reaction to diagnose the presence of Oo DNA on areas with SOI and used these data to evaluate spatiotemporal patterns of Oo prevalence. We also tested for significant spatial clusters of Oo infenction using a Bernoulli probability model as implemented in the program SatScan. We found that the proportion of snakes exhibiting SOI was constant over time while the prevalence of Oo DNA among those SOI increased across space and time. Within these data, we detected an incidence pattern consistent with an introduction and then spread. We detected six spatial clusters of Oo infection, although only one was significant. Our results support the hypothesis that Oo is an emerging, novel pathogen to Texas snakes. These data narrow the knowledge gap regarding the history of Oo infections in Texas and establish a historical record of confirmed Oo detections in several counties across the state. Thus, our results will guide future research to those areas with evidence of past Oo infections but lacking confirmation in contemporary hosts.

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The amphibian‐killing fungus in a biodiversity hotspot: identifying and validating high‐risk areas and refugia

et al. 2019

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Amphibian chytridiomycosis, due to infection with the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been associated with the alarming decline and extinction crisis of amphibians worldwide. It is essential for conservation management to identify regions with high or low suitability for Bd. We use a species distribution model to estimate the environmental suitability of Bd in the Chilean Winter Rainfall–Valdivian Forest biodiversity hotspot. Fourteen environmental variables were used as predictors in the statistical modeling (Maxent, generalized linear models, random forest) which also included 56 independent Bd+ localities. High‐risk areas (i.e., suitability above a defined threshold) were validated through prospective field surveys conducted in 2017. As results from Maxent, which only uses presence data, were the only results retained, refugia (i.e., suitability below a defined threshold) were validated with the Bd absences (N = 12) used in the GLM and RF modeling. Our results showed that (1) suitability for Bd increased with human footprint and with shorter distances to urban centers and water bodies and decreased with elevation; (2) climate was not a major factor shaping the current distribution of Bd; and (3) the model predicted high‐risk and refugia areas fairly well. Surveys of 24 new localities in high‐risk areas confirmed that 23 were Bd+; hence, these areas warrant consideration for long‐term Bd surveillance, population monitoring, and disease mitigation. In addition, five localities with apparent Bd absence were found in the predicted high‐risk areas. Our models showed that refugia can exist near high‐risk areas and Bd+ sites. Four localities with apparent Bd absence were located within the refugia predicted by the model. Preventing Bd transmission to such refugia is of paramount importance for persistence of Bd‐susceptible amphibian populations. The identification and validation through prospective field surveys of high‐risk areas and refugia are imperative to develop strategies to prevent further arrival and establishment of Bd and also, by identifying amphibian species or populations of conservation concern in such areas, will help to guide specific actions to reduce the biodiversity loss caused by chytridiomycosis.

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Historical dynamics of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Amazonia

Cited by 40 publications

References 41 publications

Spatial distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in South American caecilians

Spatial distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in South American caecilians

Leveraging preserved specimens of Nerodia to infer the spatiotemporal dynamics of Ophidiomyces ophidiicola via quantitative polymerase chain reaction

The amphibian‐killing fungus in a biodiversity hotspot: identifying and validating high‐risk areas and refugia

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