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Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

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DAO 126:33-41 (2017)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03154

Differential patterns of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection in relict amphibian populations following severe disease-associated declines

Steven M. Whitfield1,*, Gilbert Alvarado2,3, Juan Abarca4, Hector Zumbado5, Ibrahim Zuñiga6, Mark Wainwright7, Jacob Kerby8

1Zoo Miami, Conservation and Research Department, Miami, FL 33177, USA
2Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro 11501-2060, Costa Rica
3Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil
4Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica
5Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
6Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro 11501-2060, Costa Rica
7Children’s Eternal Rainforest/Asociación Conservacionista de Monteverde, Monteverde, Puntarenas 60109, Costa Rica
8University of South Dakota, Biology Department, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
*Corresponding author:

ABSTRACT: Global amphibian biodiversity has declined dramatically in the past 4 decades, and many amphibian species have declined to near extinction as a result of emergence of the amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). However, persistent or recovering populations of several amphibian species have recently been rediscovered, and such populations may illustrate how amphibian species that are highly susceptible to chytridiomycosis may survive in the presence of Bd. We conducted field surveys for Bd infection in 7 species of Costa Rican amphibians (all species that have declined to near extinction but for which isolated populations persist) to characterize infection profiles in highly Bd-susceptible amphibians post-decline. We found highly variable patterns in infection, with some species showing low prevalence (~10%) and low infection intensity and others showing high infection prevalence (>80%) and either low or high infection intensity. Across sites, infection rates were negatively associated with mean annual precipitation, and infection intensity across sites was negatively associated with mean average temperatures. Our results illustrate that even the most Bd-susceptible amphibians can persist in Bd-enzootic ecosystems, and that multiple ecological or evolutionary mechanisms likely exist for host-pathogen co-existence between Bd and the most Bd-susceptible amphibian species. Continued monitoring of these populations is necessary to evaluate population trends (continuing decline, stability, or population growth). These results should inform efforts to mitigate impacts of Bd on amphibians in the field.


KEY WORDS: Chytrid fungus · Chytridiomycosis · Craugastor · Lithobates · Incilius · Agalychnis · Ptychohyla · Tropical frog · Infection rate · Population monitoring · Costa Rica


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Cite this article as: Whitfield SM, Alvarado G, Abarca J, Zumbado H, Zuñiga I, Wainwright M, Kerby J (2017) Differential patterns of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection in relict amphibian populations following severe disease-associated declines. Dis Aquat Org 126:33-41. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03154

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