Pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis, a cause of catastrophic amphibian declines

Voyles, Jamie L., Young, Samantha, Berger, Lee, Campbell, Craig, Voyles, Wyatt F, Dinudom, Anuwat, Cook, David, Webb, Rebecca, Alford, Ross A., Skerratt, Lee F., and Speare, Richard (2009) Pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis, a cause of catastrophic amphibian declines. Science, 326 (5952). pp. 582-585.

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Abstract

The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which causes the skin disease chytridiomycosis, is one of the few highly virulent fungi in vertebrates and has been implicated in worldwide amphibian declines. However, the mechanism by which Bd causes death has not been determined. We show that Bd infection is associated with pathophysiological changes that lead to mortality in green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea). In diseased individuals, electrolyte transport across the epidermis was inhibited by >50%, plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were respectively reduced by ~20% and ~50%, and asystolic cardiac arrest resulted in death. Because the skin is critical in maintaining amphibian homeostasis, disruption to cutaneous function may be the mechanism by which Bd produces morbidity and mortality across a wide range of phylogenetically distant amphibian taxa.

Item ID: 5517
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1095-9203
Keywords: amphibian disease, pathogenesis, amphibian declines, chytridiomycosis, mechanisms, tropical biology
Date Deposited: 09 Nov 2009 00:31
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity @ 50%
07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0707 Veterinary Sciences > 070702 Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9604 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species > 960404 Control of Animal Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Forest and Woodlands Environments @ 80%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 20%
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