Eastern water dragons (Physignathus lesueurii) are not important alternate hosts of the frog chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Phillott, Andrea D., Garland, Stephen, and Skerratt, Lee F. (2009) Eastern water dragons (Physignathus lesueurii) are not important alternate hosts of the frog chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 4 (3). pp. 379-383.
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Abstract
The chytridiomycete fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, causative pathogen of the disease amphibian chytridiomycosis, sometimes occurs on environmental substrates and can grow in vitro on reptile skin. This suggests that susceptible reptiles associated with water bodies may act as both reservoirs of infection and vectors for spread of the disease. We sampled the semi-aquatic Eastern Water Dragon, Physignathus lesueurii, associated with streams and known infected frog populations for B. dendrobatidis. None of the 15 juvenile dragons returned positive results for the pathogen by qPCR assay. This suggests P. lesueurii are not important alternate hosts for B. dendrobatidis and do not act as important reservoirs or vectors of B. dendrobatidis.
Item ID: | 7972 |
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Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
ISSN: | 1931-7603 |
Keywords: | alternate host; amphibians; Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; chytridiomycosis; Physignathus lesueurii; reptiles; water dragons |
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Date Deposited: | 21 Jan 2010 01:52 |
FoR Codes: | 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050211 Wildlife and Habitat Management @ 50% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0501 Ecological Applications > 050102 Ecosystem Function @ 50% |
SEO Codes: | 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960807 Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100% |
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