Reptiles as potential vectors and hosts of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Panama

Kilburn, Vanessa; Ibáñez, Roberto; Green, David M.

doi:10.3354/dao02409

Cited by 47 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…The effects of rates of physical contact between frogs on rates of transmission of B. dendrobatidis are not known, but frogs can also become infected by contact with water or substrates, both of which can harbour infectious B. dendrobatidis zoospores [48,49]. In addition, zoospores can be carried and released into the environment by non-amphibian hosts, including nematodes and crayfish [50,51], and non-amphibian reservoirs, including reptiles and waterfowl [52,53]. Increased calling effort could also attract predators [54], which would be detrimental for pathogen transmission.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen

et al. 2015

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To minimize the negative effects of an infection on fitness, hosts can respond adaptively by altering their reproductive effort or by adjusting their timing of reproduction. We studied effects of the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on the probability of calling in a stream-breeding rainforest frog (Litoria rheocola). In uninfected frogs, calling probability was relatively constant across seasons and body conditions, but in infected frogs, calling probability differed among seasons (lowest in winter, highest in summer) and was strongly and positively related to body condition. Infected frogs in poor condition were up to 40% less likely to call than uninfected frogs, whereas infected frogs in good condition were up to 30% more likely to call than uninfected frogs. Our results suggest that frogs employed a pre-existing, plastic, life-history strategy in response to infection, which may have complex evolutionary implications. If infected males in good condition reproduce at rates equal to or greater than those of uninfected males, selection on factors affecting disease susceptibility may be minimal. However, because reproductive effort in infected males is positively related to body condition, there may be selection on mechanisms that limit the negative effects of infections on hosts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen

et al. 2015

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“…However, this idea appeared to be temporarily abandoned after Rowley et al (17) retracted their initial report of the detection of B. dendrobatidis on nonamphibian hosts (18). Recently, it was reported that B. dendrobatidis can be carried on algae (12), terrestrial reptiles (19), waterfowl (20), and nematodes (21), but there is currently no evidence that these carriers actually supported pathogen growth or transmission, which would be necessary to explain the long-term persistence of B. dendrobatidis in the absence of amphibians. Other studies have grown B. dendrobatidis on boiled snake skin (11,22), sterilized bird feathers (23), and toe scales from waterfowl (20), but none of these studies demonstrated B. dendrobatidis growth on live hosts with functioning immune systems.…”

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confidence: 97%

Chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has nonamphibian hosts and releases chemicals that cause pathology in the absence of infection

McMahon

Brannelly

Chatfield

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

169

158

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Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a pathogenic chytrid fungus implicated in worldwide amphibian declines, is considered an amphibian specialist. Identification of nonamphibian hosts could help explain the virulence, heterogeneous distribution, variable rates of spread, and persistence of B. dendrobatidis in freshwater ecosystems even after amphibian extirpations. Here, we test whether mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) and crayfish (Procambarus spp. and Orconectes virilis), which are syntopic with many amphibian species, are possible hosts for B. dendrobatidis. Field surveys in Louisiana and Colorado revealed that zoosporangia occur within crayfish gastrointestinal tracts, that B. dendrobatidis prevalence in crayfish was up to 29%, and that crayfish presence in Colorado wetlands was a positive predictor of B. dendrobatidis infections in cooccurring amphibians. In experiments, crayfish, but not mosquitofish, became infected with B. dendrobatidis, maintained the infection for at least 12 wk, and transmitted B. dendrobatidis to amphibians. Exposure to water that previously held B. dendrobatidis also caused significant crayfish mortality and gill recession. These results indicate that there are nonamphibian hosts for B. dendrobatidis and suggest that B. dendrobatidis releases a chemical that can cause host pathology, even in the absence of infection. Managing these biological reservoirs for B. dendrobatidis and identifying this chemical might provide new hope for imperiled amphibians.alternative hosts | field correlation | vectors | Bd toxin

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“…Dis Aquat Org 112: [229][230][231][232][233][234][235] 2015 Anolis lizards (Kilburn et al 2011), 3 species of snake (Kilburn et al 2011), Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes (under laboratory conditions, Shapard et al 2012), and wading birds (Garmyn et al 2012). However, none of these studies have demonstrated the ability of the pathogen to complete its life cycle on or in these non-amphibian taxa.…”

Section: Resale or Republication Not Permitted Without Written Consenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in natural and farmed Louisiana crayfish populations: prevalence and implications

Brannelly

McMahon²,

Hinton³

et al. 2015

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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The pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been linked to global declines and extinctions of amphibians, making it one of the most devastating wildlife pathogens known. Understanding the factors that affect disease dynamics in this system is critical for mitigating infection and protecting threatened species. Crayfish are hosts of this pathogen and can transmit Bd to amphibians. Because they co-occur with susceptible amphibian communities, crayfish may be important alternative hosts for Bd. Understanding the prevalence and seasonal dynamics of crayfish infections is of agricultural and ecological interest in areas where crayfish are farmed and traded for human consumption. We conducted a survey of Bd in farmed and natural crayfish (Procambarus spp.) populations in Louisiana, USA. We found that Bd prevalence and infection intensity was low in both farmed and native populations and that prevalence varied seasonally in wild Louisiana crayfish. This seasonal pattern mirrors that seen in local amphibians. As crayfish are an important globally traded freshwater taxon, even with low prevalence, they could be an important vector in the spread of Bd. KEY WORDS: Alternative hosts · Aquaculture · Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis · Enzootic · Invasive species · Procambarus clarkii Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 112: [229][230][231][232][233][234][235] 2015 Anolis lizards (Kilburn et al. 2011), 3 species of snake (Kilburn et al. 2011), Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes (under laboratory conditions, Shapard et al. 2012), and wading birds (Garmyn et al. 2012). However, none of these studies have demonstrated the ability of the pathogen to complete its life cycle on or in these non-amphibian taxa.Only 1 study to date has demonstrated that Bd can complete its life cycle in a non-amphibian host and transmit Bd infection to amphibians. McMahon et al. (2013) found that crayfish (Procambarus spp. and Orconectes spp.) can be Bd infected in natural populations, can carry Bd for 3 mo in the laboratory, and can transmit infection to tadpoles under laboratory conditions. Crayfish exposed to Bd under laboratory conditions also suffered gill damage and mortality, suggesting that Bd may pose a health threat to these commercially important animals as well. McMahon et al. (2013) suggest that crayfish may be important in the Bd−amphibian disease dynamic because presence of crayfish correlates positively with the presence of Bd in amphibian communities; crayfish presence is a better predictor of Bd presence than the presence of the North American bullfrog R. catesbeiana, a purported reservoir species. The North American bullfrog has been suggested as a disease reservoir because it can harbor large Bd loads and does not usually develop symptoms of the disease chytridiomycosis (Schloegel et al. 2010).Procambarus spp. are common in the southeastern USA and are one of the most widely traded freshwater taxa globally, with the majority of individuals co...

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Reptiles as potential vectors and hosts of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Panama

Cited by 47 publications

References 39 publications

Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen

Condition-dependent reproductive effort in frogs infected by a widespread pathogen

Chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has nonamphibian hosts and releases chemicals that cause pathology in the absence of infection

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in natural and farmed Louisiana crayfish populations: prevalence and implications

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