Abstract
A parasitic fungus,Batrachochytrium dendrobatidisis now recognised as an important factor in the amphibian biodiversity crisis. Toad species of the genusBufoare among those susceptible to infection by the pathogen in Europe. The aim of this study was to observe the presence and impact of infection in adults of two toad species collected for captive breeding. The total number of animals included in the study was 162, but only subsets were used for sampling at different occasions (35 specimens in the initial sampling in summer 2011, 48 post hibernation during winter 2011, and 31 in summer 2012, after all toads in captivity were treated with itraconazole). We performed TaqMan real-time quantification PCR to detect and quantify the pathogen. We found that a large infection load was linked to mortality in a single adult green toad (Bufo viridis). However, low infection loads observed in fiveB. viridisand five natterjack toads (B. calamita)were lost over time, with no apparent adverse effect. Intraconazole treated animals were all clear of infection. As infection in these two toad species either led to mortality or recovery, it seems unlikely they could act as permanent carriers ofB. dendrobatidisand therefore persistence of the pathogen is likely maintained by different host species. This is the first study to date that has detected infection and observed its impact and persistence in wild-infected toads in Europe.
Highlights
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is an important fungal pathogen of amphibians, which causes the cutaneous disease chytridiomycosis (Longcore et al 1999)
Bufo bufo was shown to harbour the pathogen at low prevalence in the Czech Republic, there is no information available on B. dendrobatidis infection status and its impact to B. calamita and B. viridis, even though they are recognised as endangered species by national law and are included in numerous conservation and surveillance schemes
The aim of this study was to monitor the pathogen in an ex-situ breeding project B. calamita and B. viridis to search for cases of acute chytridiomycosis and observe infection persistence in time
Summary
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is an important fungal pathogen of amphibians, which causes the cutaneous disease chytridiomycosis (Longcore et al 1999). The clinical signs include lethargy, dehydration, uneven skin shedding, loss of appetite, occasionally ulceration or necrosis of digits and neurological defects (Duffus and Cunningham 2010) These symptoms are non-specific and infection needs to be proven in the laboratory (Duffus and Cunningham 2010). All three European Bufo species (common toad Bufo bufo, natterjack toad B. calamita, green toad B. viridis) are present within the Czech Republic, and it is an ideal area to study the interactions between B. dendrobatidis and the different species of this genus. Bufo bufo was shown to harbour the pathogen at low prevalence in the Czech Republic, there is no information available on B. dendrobatidis infection status and its impact to B. calamita and B. viridis, even though they are recognised as endangered species by national law and are included in numerous conservation and surveillance schemes. The aim of this study was to monitor the pathogen in an ex-situ breeding project B. calamita and B. viridis to search for cases of acute chytridiomycosis and observe infection persistence in time
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