Treatment of Spontaneous Chytridiomycosis in Captive Amphibians Using Itraconazole

Tamukai, Kenichi; Une, Yumi; Tominaga, Akira; Suzuki, Kazutaka; Goka, Koichi

doi:10.1292/jvms.10-0261

Cited by 23 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…After the experiment, all tadpoles were successfully treated for 7 d with itraconazole according to Garner et al (2009a) and brought back to their original pond according to permit specifications. Additionally, 89 metamorphs were treated with itraconazole diluted to 0.01% aqueous solution (10 mg l −1 ; Garner et al 2009a, Tamukai et al 2011) for 3 consecutive days before treatment was discontinued because of high mortality. The surviving frogs were returned near their pond of origin.…”

Section: Animal Husbandrymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Treatment of amphibians infected with chytrid fungus: learning from failed trials with itraconazole, antimicrobial peptides, bacteria, and heat therapy

Woodhams

Geiger²,

Reinert³

et al. 2012

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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Amphibian conservation goals depend on effective disease-treatment protocols. Desirable protocols are species, life stage, and context specific, but currently few treatment options exist for amphibians infected with the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Treatment options, at present, include antifungal drugs and heat therapy, but risks of toxicity and sideeffects make these options untenable in some cases. Here, we report on the comparison of several novel treatments with a more generally accepted antifungal treatment in experimental scientific trials to treat Bd-infected frogs including Alytes obstetricans tadpoles and metamorphs, Bufo bufo and Limnodynastes peronii metamorphs, and Lithobates pipiens and Rana muscosa adults. The experimental treatments included commercial antifungal products (itraconazole, mandipropamid, steriplantN, and PIP Pond Plus), antimicrobial skin peptides from the Bd-resistant Pelophylax esculentus, microbial treatments (Pedobacter cryoconitis), and heat therapy (35°C for 24 h). None of the new experimental treatments were considered successful in terms of improving survival; however, these results may advance future research by indicating the limits and potential of the various protocols. Caution in the use of itraconazole is warranted because of observed toxicity in metamorphic and adult frogs, even at low concentrations. Results suggest that rather than focusing on a single cure-all, diverse lines of research may provide multiple options for treating Bd infection in amphibians. Learning from 'failed treatments' is essential for the timely achievement of conservation goals and one of the primary aims for a publicly accessible treatment database under development.

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Section: Animal Husbandrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The urgent development of antifungal treatment protocols has resulted in several reports (Nichols et al 2000, Berger et al 2010, Bowerman et al 2010, Pessier & Mendelson 2010, Martel et al 2011, Tamukai et al 2011. Successful trials have been documented in peer-reviewed journals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of amphibians infected with chytrid fungus: learning from failed trials with itraconazole, antimicrobial peptides, bacteria, and heat therapy

Woodhams

Geiger²,

Reinert³

et al. 2012

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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“…(Parker et al 2002), chlor amphenicol (Bishop et al 2009) and the azole-type antifungal drugs itraconazole, fluconazole and vori conazole (Martel et al 2011). An empirically derived treatment protocol using itraconazole ap plied daily as a 100 mg l −1 bath (Nichols et al 2000) has been widely adapted for treatment of chytridiomycosis in captive amphibians (Forzán et al 2008, Gagliardo et al 2008, Pessier 2008, Tamukai et al 2011. Advantages of this protocol are that it is well tolerated by many amphibian species and only a short daily treatment period of 5 to 10 min is needed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…histology). A single report using the more sensitive PCR test to detect evidence of residual Bd infection after treatment examined only a small number of animals (Tamukai et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treatment of chytridiomycosis with reduced-dose itraconazole

Jones¹,

Paddock²,

Bender³

et al. 2012

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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“…As the effects of drugs are likely to vary during different developmental stages, the effectiveness and side effects of antifungal agents have generally been evaluated using tadpoles, which are relatively more sensitive to changes in water chemistry (Garner et al 2009, Berger et al 2010, Martel et al 2011. However, with the exception of a study by Tamukai et al (2011) which evaluated the efficacy of itraconazole for the treatment of chytridiomycosis, no known studies have shown that antifungal agents are effective for treating urodeles.The physiology and structural characteristics of urodele skin differ from that of anurans (Warburg et al 1994), and it is unknown whether the methods that are typically used to administer drugs used in anurans are appropriate for use with urodeles. The present study therefore followed the methodology of Tamukai et al (2011), using baths consisting of a 0.01% aqueous solution of itraconazole, which was considered to be both safe and effective.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Eradication of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Japanese giant salamander Andrias japonicus

Une

Matsui²,

Tamukai³

et al. 2012

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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The purpose of this study was to establish a method for eradicating a chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; Bd) from the Japanese giant salamander Andrias japonicus. The emerging agent (Bd) has a high rate of detection in this endangered amphibian species, which is designated as a special natural monument in Japan. Four Japanese giant salamanders with Bd confirmed by PCR assay were bathed in 0.01% itraconazole for 5 min d −1 over 10 successive days. PCR assays were conducted prior to treatment, on Days 5 and 10 of treatment, and on Days 7 and 14 post-treatment. By treatment Day 5, all individuals tested negative for Bd and remained negative until the end of the experiment. No side effects associated with itraconazole were observed. The present method appears to be a safe and effective approach for Bd eradication and may contribute to reducing the threat and spread of Bd among endangered amphibians. Notably, this study represents the first reported Bd eradication experiment involving Japanese giant salamanders. KEY WORDS: Eradication · Chytrid fungus · Japanese giant salamander Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisherDis Aquat Org 98: [243][244][245][246][247] 2012 cies, 49 (84%) are endemic and 36 (62%) are listed as threatened by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment (Ota 2000). In 2006, chytridiomycosis was confirmed for the first time in Asia when it was implicated in the death of captive amphibians in Japan (Une et al. 2008). A Bd survey among wild amphibians conducted soon after this initial detection revealed a high rate of infection among Japanese giant salamanders Andrias japonicus (Goka et al. 2009), which have been designated as a special natural monument and are completely protected in Japan, as are a number of their known habitats. A. japonicus is also listed as a CITES Appendix I species (Kaneko & Matsui 2004). The present study aimed to establish a safe and effective method for eradicating Bd in the Japanese giant salamander.Although a number of methods for eradicating Bd have been reported to date (Parker et al. 2002, Woodhams et al. 2003, Forzán et al. 2008, Bishop et al. 2009, Garner et al. 2009, Nichols & Lamirande 2009, Berger et al. 2010, Martel et al. 2011, most of these reports have focused on anuran taxa. However, several groups have recently reported methods for treating chytridiomycosis in urodeles. Among them is heat treatment for groups of hellbenders (Wanner 2008, J. Briggler pers comm). Here, we conducted Bd eradication experiments following the method used in our successful treatment of chytridiomycosis in the urodele Ambystoma tigrinum (Tamukai et al. 2011). MATERIALS AND METHODSFour Japanese giant salamanders (average body mass = 1318 g) that were naturally infected with Bd were used in this study (Table 1). The salamanders, which appeared to be in good health, were housed individually in tanks containing freshwater in rooms maintained at 15°C. Prior to treating the Bd infection, swabs were collected from the ends of ...

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Treatment of Spontaneous Chytridiomycosis in Captive Amphibians Using Itraconazole

Cited by 23 publications

References 23 publications

Treatment of amphibians infected with chytrid fungus: learning from failed trials with itraconazole, antimicrobial peptides, bacteria, and heat therapy

Treatment of amphibians infected with chytrid fungus: learning from failed trials with itraconazole, antimicrobial peptides, bacteria, and heat therapy

Treatment of chytridiomycosis with reduced-dose itraconazole

Eradication of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Japanese giant salamander Andrias japonicus

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