La quitridiomicosis en los anfibios de México: una revisión

Abstract

Chytridiomycosis is a disease caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which affects the skin of amphibians and may cause deathABS. The decline of amphibian populations as a result of the effect of this pathogen occurred simultaneously in various parts of the world from the early 1980's. In Mexico the epidemic wave of Bd was identified in the 1970's, which is consistent with the decline of salamander (caudate) populations in the southern part of the country. Our work presents a review of the state of knowledge of chytridiomycosis as a factor in the decline of amphibian populations worldwide and the information gathered until now of the presence of this pathogen in Mexico. To date, there has been infection in 50 Mexican amphibian species that are mainly distributed in the mountainous regions of central and southern Mexico, and was determined that the families Hylidae and Plethodontidae are the most affected. Several authors have suggested that global climate change has played a key role in the occurrence and virulence of Batrachochytrium because the temperature increase induces an imbalance in the pathogen-host relationship to increased virulence of Bd and/or increased susceptibility to infection in amphibians. On this matter, we analyzed the reported temperatures of 1964-1989 in areas where the decline of caudates was more drastic. We found no relationship between the decline of salamanders with temperature. However, the international trade, the introduction and displacement of the “bullfrog” Lithobates catesbeiana are important factors for the spread of the pathogen.