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Pathogenesis of Chytridiomycosis, a Cause of Catastrophic Amphibian Declines
Jamie Voyles,1* Sam Young,1 Lee Berger,1 Craig Campbell,2 Wyatt F. Voyles,3 Anuwat Dinudom,2
David Cook,2 Rebecca Webb,1 Ross A. Alford,4 Lee F. Skerratt,1 Rick Speare1
The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which causes the skin disease chytridiomycosis,
is one of the few highly virulent fungi in vertebrates and has been implicated in worldwide
amphibian declines. However, the mechanism by which Bd causes death has not been determined.
We show that Bd infection is associated with pathophysiological changes that lead to mortality in
green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea). In diseased individuals, electrolyte transport across the
epidermis was inhibited by >50%, plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were respectively
reduced by ~20% and ~50%, and asystolic cardiac arrest resulted in death. Because the skin is
critical in maintaining amphibian homeostasis, disruption to cutaneous function may be the
mechanism by which Bd produces morbidity and mortality across a wide range of phylogenetically
distant amphibian taxa.
See attached PDF for full article in last weeks Science magazine.
Jamie Voyles,1* Sam Young,1 Lee Berger,1 Craig Campbell,2 Wyatt F. Voyles,3 Anuwat Dinudom,2
David Cook,2 Rebecca Webb,1 Ross A. Alford,4 Lee F. Skerratt,1 Rick Speare1
The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which causes the skin disease chytridiomycosis,
is one of the few highly virulent fungi in vertebrates and has been implicated in worldwide
amphibian declines. However, the mechanism by which Bd causes death has not been determined.
We show that Bd infection is associated with pathophysiological changes that lead to mortality in
green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea). In diseased individuals, electrolyte transport across the
epidermis was inhibited by >50%, plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were respectively
reduced by ~20% and ~50%, and asystolic cardiac arrest resulted in death. Because the skin is
critical in maintaining amphibian homeostasis, disruption to cutaneous function may be the
mechanism by which Bd produces morbidity and mortality across a wide range of phylogenetically
distant amphibian taxa.
See attached PDF for full article in last weeks Science magazine.
thank you!