Prevalence of the pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in an endangered population of northern leopard frogs, Rana pipiens
Date
2010-03-04
Authors
Voordouw, Maarten J.
Adama, Doug
Houston, Barb
Govindarajulu, Purnima
Robinson, John
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Emerging infectious diseases threaten naïve host populations with extinction. Chytridiomycosis, an
emerging infectious disease of amphibians, is caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd)
and has been linked to global declines in amphibians.
Results: We monitored the prevalence of Bd for four years in the Northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens, which is
critically imperiled in British Columbia (BC), Canada. The prevalence of Bd initially increased and then remained
constant over the last three years of the study. Young of the year emerging from breeding ponds in summer were
rarely infected with Bd. Some individuals cleared their Bd infections and the return rate between infected and
uninfected individuals was not significantly different.
Conclusions: The BC population of R. pipiens appears to have evolved a level of resistance that allows it to co-exist
with Bd. However, this small population of R. pipiens remains vulnerable to extinction.
Description
BioMed Central
Keywords
Citation
Voordouw et al.: Prevalence of the pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in an endangered population of northern leopard frogs, Rana pipiens. BMC Ecology 2010 10:6.