| fragile coexistence of a global chytrid pathogen with amphibian populations is mediated by environment and demography. | unravelling the multiple interacting drivers of host-pathogen coexistence is crucial in understanding how an apparently stable state of endemism may shift towards an epidemic and lead to biodiversity loss. here, we investigate the apparent coexistence of the global amphibian pathogen batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) with bombina variegata populations in the netherlands over a 7-year period. we used a multi-season mark-recapture dataset and assessed potential drivers of coexistence (individual ... | 2017 | 28978729 |
| batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is present in poland and associated with reduced fitness in wild populations of pelophylax lessonae. | the fungus batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) is a pathogen associated with global declines of amphibians. we used qpcr to detect bd in 255 samples from 10 polish populations of 8 species. we found bd infection in 3 species (bombina variegata, pelophylax lessonae, p. esculentus). the infection intensity in p. lessonae reached a maximum of 58400 genomic equivalents of zoospores (ge), and the 2 most heavily infected individuals died. previous observations of the populations that included infected ... | 2017 | 28492180 |
| widespread occurrence of batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in contemporary and historical samples of the endangered bombina pachypus along the italian peninsula. | batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is considered a main driver of the worldwide declines and extinctions of amphibian populations. nonetheless, fundamental questions about its epidemiology, including whether it acts mainly as a "lone killer" or in conjunction with other factors, remain largely open. in this paper we analysed contemporary and historical samples of the endangered apennine yellow-bellied toad (bombina pachypus) along the italian peninsula, in order to assess the presence of the pathoge ... | 2013 | 23667603 |
| batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in germany: distribution, prevalences, and prediction of high risk areas. | in germany, the pathogenic fungus batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) was detected in 11 indigenous frog species, 4 newt species, and 1 salamander species in 64 out of the 181 locations (35%) investigated. among the 3450 samples collected between 2003 and 2011, 284 (8.2%) were positive for bd infections. the highest prevalences were observed in alytes obstetricans (17.8% of individuals, 20% of populations), followed by ichthyosaura alpestris (14.7%, 22.2%), bombina variegata (13.9%, 38.5%), and ... | 2013 | 24270023 |
| geographic distribution of the chytrid pathogen batrachochytrium dendrobatidis among mountain amphibians along the italian peninsula. | the amphibian chytrid pathogen batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) is considered a major cause of amphibian population declines, particularly in montane areas. here, we investigated the presence and distribution of bd among populations of 3 mid- to high-altitude species spanning the entire italian peninsula (486 individuals from 39 sites overall): the stream frog rana italica, the fire salamander salamandra salamandra gigliolii, and the alpine newt mesotriton alpestris apuanus. we found bd in al ... | 2013 | 24270024 |
| designing screening protocols for amphibian disease that account for imperfect and variable capture rates of individuals. | the amphibian chytrid fungus, batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is one of the main factors in global amphibian decline. accurate knowledge of its presence and prevalence in an area is needed to trigger conservation actions. however, imperfect capture rates determine the number of individuals caught and tested during field surveys, and contribute to the uncertainty surrounding estimates of prevalence. screening programs should be planned with the objective of minimizing such uncertainty. we show ho ... | 2014 | 25154107 |
| no evidence for effects of infection with the amphibian chytrid fungus on populations of yellow-bellied toads. | the parasitic chytrid fungus batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (bd) can cause the lethal disease chytridiomycosis in amphibians and therefore may play a role in population declines. the yellow-bellied toad bombina variegata suffered strong declines throughout western and northwestern parts of its range and is therefore listed as highly endangered for germany and the federal state of hesse. whether chytridiomycosis may play a role in the observed local declines of this strictly protected anuran spec ... | 2017 | 28177293 |