Trade in wild anurans vectors the urodelan pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans into Europe

Tao Thien Nguyen,An Martel,Thinh Van Nguyen,Thomas Ziegler,Frank Pasmans

doi:10.1163/15685381-00003125

Tao Thien Nguyen, An Martel + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00003125

Copy DOI

Abstract

Pathogen pollution has caused dramatic losses of amphibian diversity on a global scale. The recently emerged chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) has been hypothesized to have its origin in Asian urodelan populations, from which it may have been introduced to Europe through the trade in live urodelans. We here show that Bsal is present on wild small-webbed fire-bellied toads (Bombina microdeladigitora) from Vietnam and on representatives of the same species that have recently been imported in Germany. This finding suggests that the installment of measures to mitigate the Bsal threat through the amphibian trade should not be limited to urodeles, but should equally take anurans into account.

Highlights

Pathogen pollution has caused dramatic losses of amphibian diversity on a global scale
The origin of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is hypothesized to be in Asia, where the fungus appears to be endemic in urodelan populations (Martel et al, 2014; Laking et al, 2017)
Wild amphibians traded for use as pets have been proposed as possible vectors bringing Bsal into Europe, actual evidence for this claim

Summary

Introduction

Pathogen pollution has caused dramatic losses of amphibian diversity on a global scale. The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) emerged in Europe, causing extirpation events in fire salamanders (Martel et al, 2013; Spitzen et al, 2016), and posing a potential threat to the survival of most western Palearctic urodelans (Martel et al, 2014). The origin of Bsal is hypothesized to be in Asia, where the fungus appears to be endemic in urodelan populations (Martel et al, 2014; Laking et al, 2017).

Results

Conclusion