Low prevalence of chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) in amphibians of U.S. headwater streams

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Hossack, Blake R.; Adams, Michael J.; Grant, Evan H. Campbell; Pearl, Christopher A.; Bettaso, James B.; Barichivich, William J.; Lowe, Winsor H.; True, Kimberly; Ware, Joy L.; Corn, Paul Stephen

Source:

Journal of Herpetology, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Volume 44, Issue 2, p.253-260 (2010)

Call Number:

A10HOS01IDUS

URL:

http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs_other/rmrs_2010_hossack_b001.pdf, http://dbs.umt.edu/dbs/research_labs/lowelab/documents/Hossack_et_al_2010_JHerp.pdf

Keywords:

amphibians, Ascaphus montanus, Ascaphus truei, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, chytridiomycosis, Dicamptodon aterrimus, eastern tailed frog, Idaho giant salamander, western tailed frog

Abstract:

Many declines of amphibian populations have been associated with chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by the aquatic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Despite the relatively high prevalence of chytridiomycosis in stream amphibians globally, most surveys in North America have focused primarily on wetland-associated species, which are frequently infected. To better understand the distribution and prevalence of Bd in headwater amphibian communities, the authors sampled 452 tailed frogs (Ascaphus truei and Ascaphus montanus) and 304 stream salamanders (seven species in the Dicamptodontidae and Plethodontidae) for Bd in 38, first- to third-order streams in five montane areas across the United States. They tested for presence of Bd by using PCR on skin swabs from salamanders and metamorphosed tailed frogs or the oral disc of frog larvae. Bd was detected on only seven individuals (0.93%) in four streams. Based on this study and results from five other studies that have sampled headwater- or seep-associated amphibians in the United States, Bd has been detected on only 3% of 1,322 individuals from 21 species. These results differ strongly from surveys in Central America and Australia, where Bd is more prevalent onstream-breeding species, as well as results from wetland-associated anurans in the same regions of the United States that were sampled in this study. Differences in the prevalence of Bd between stream- and wetland-associated amphibians in the United States may be related to species-specific variation in susceptibility to chytridiomycosis or habitat differences.