Publications

using itraconazole to clear batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection, and subsequent depigmentation of alytes muletensis tadpoles.	batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) is a global threat to amphibian biodiversity. current calls for conservation through captive breeding require that efficient and reliable antifungal treatments be developed for target species. here we confirm that the antifungal itraconazole is an effective treatment for infection in larval alytes muletensis. exceptionally low doses applied as few as 7 times were effective at clearing infection from tadpoles for up to 28 d after treatment. however, we cannot r ...	2009	19402457
developing a safe antifungal treatment protocol to eliminate batrachochytrium dendrobatidis from amphibians.	batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is one of the most pathogenic microorganisms affecting amphibians in both captivity and in nature. the establishment of b. dendrobatidis free, stable, amphibian captive breeding colonies is one of the emergency measures that is being taken to save threatened amphibian species from extinction. for this purpose, in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing and the development of efficient and safe treatment protocols are required. in this study, we evaluated the use of ...	2011	20718611
germ tube mediated invasion of batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibian skin is host dependent.	batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) is the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, a fungal skin disease in amphibians and driver of worldwide amphibian declines.we focussed on the early stages of infection by bd in 3 amphibian species with a differential susceptibility to chytridiomycosis. skin explants of alytes muletensis, litoria caerulea and xenopus leavis were exposed to bd in an ussing chamber for 3 to 5 days. early interactions of bd with amphibian skin were observed using light microscopy ...	2012	22911798
antibacterial therapeutics for the treatment of chytrid infection in amphibians: columbus's egg?	the establishment of safe and effective protocols to treat chytridiomycosis in amphibians is urgently required. in this study, the usefulness of antibacterial agents to clear chytridiomycosis from infected amphibians was evaluated.	2012	23009707
resistance to chytridiomycosis in european plethodontid salamanders of the genus speleomantes.	north america and the neotropics harbor nearly all species of plethodontid salamanders. in contrast, this family of caudate amphibians is represented in europe and asia by two genera, speleomantes and karsenia, which are confined to small geographic ranges. compared to neotropical and north american plethodontids, mortality attributed to chytridiomycosis caused by batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) has not been reported for european plethodontids, despite the established presence of bd in their ...	2013	23703511
context-dependent amphibian host population response to an invading pathogen.	amphibian chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytrid fungus batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd), is an emerging infectious disease that widely threatens amphibian biodiversity. however, population-level outcomes following the introduction of the pathogen are highly context dependent and are mediated by a broad suite of biotic and abiotic variables. here, we examine the effect of the introduction of bd on native island populations of the iucn red-listed amphibian species alytes muletensis, the mallo ...	2013	24015523
successful elimination of a lethal wildlife infectious disease in nature.	methods to mitigate the impacts of emerging infectious diseases affecting wildlife are urgently needed to combat loss of biodiversity. however, the successful mitigation of wildlife pathogens in situ has rarely occurred. indeed, most strategies for combating wildlife diseases remain theoretical, despite the wealth of information available for combating infections in livestock and crops. here, we report the outcome of a 5-year effort to eliminate infection with batrachochytrium dendrobatidis affe ...	2015	26582843