Susceptibility to disease varies with ontogeny and immunocompetence in a threatened amphibian

Abu Bakar, Amalina, Bower, Deborah S., Stockwell, Michelle P., Clulow, Simon, Clulow, John, and Mahony, Michael J. (2016) Susceptibility to disease varies with ontogeny and immunocompetence in a threatened amphibian. Oecologia, 181 (4). pp. 997-1009.

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Abstract

Ontogenetic changes in disease susceptibility have been demonstrated in many vertebrate taxa, as immature immune systems and limited prior exposure to pathogens can place less developed juveniles at a greater disease risk. By causing the disease chytridiomycosis, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) infection has led to the decline of many amphibian species. Despite increasing knowledge on how Bd varies in its effects among species, little is known on the interaction between susceptibility and development within host species. We compared the ontogenetic susceptibility of post-metamorphic green and golden bell frogs Litoria aurea to chytridiomycosis by simultaneously measuring three host-pathogen responses as indicators of the development of the fungus—infection load, survival rate, and host immunocompetence—following Bd exposure in three life stages (recently metamorphosed juveniles, subadults, adults) over 95 days. Frogs exposed to Bd as recently metamorphosed juveniles acquired higher infection loads and experienced lower immune function and lower survivorship than subadults and adults, indicating an ontogenetic decline in chytridiomycosis susceptibility. By corresponding with an intrinsic developmental maturation in immunocompetence seen in uninfected frogs, we suggest these developmental changes in host susceptibility in L. aurea may be immune mediated. Consequently, the physiological relationship between ontogeny and immunity may affect host population structure and demography through variation in life stage survival, and understanding this can shape management targets for effective amphibian conservation.

Item ID: 49786
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1432-1939
Keywords: chytrid; Batrachochytuium dendrobatidis; chytridiomycosis; Litoria aurea; development
Funders: Australian Research Council (ARC)
Projects and Grants: ARC Linkage grant LP0989459
Date Deposited: 09 Oct 2017 02:21
FoR Codes: 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3109 Zoology > 310914 Vertebrate biology @ 80%
41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4102 Ecological applications > 410202 Biosecurity science and invasive species ecology @ 20%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960807 Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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