TY - JOUR
T1 - Chytridiomycosis survey in wild and captive Mexican amphibians
AU - Frías-Alvarez, Patricia
AU - Vredenburg, Vance T.
AU - Familiar-López, Mariel
AU - Longcore, Joyce E.
AU - González-Bernal, Edna
AU - Santos-Barrera, Georgina
AU - Zambrano, Luis
AU - Parra-Olea, Gabriela
N1 - Funding Information:
Research was supported by Semarnat-Conacyt 2002-C01-0015, PAPIIT-UNAM IN226605 UC MEXUS-CONACyT (to G.P.O.), and RANA (NSF:DEB-0130273). We thank L. Márquez (Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, I—Biología, UNAM) and Tate Tunstall (UC—Berkeley) for laboratory assistance and support. A.D. Hyatt provided zoospores.
PY - 2008/3
Y1 - 2008/3
N2 - Mexico, a rich country in terms of amphibian diversity, hosts about 375 described species. Population declines have been documented for several species where it is evident that their habitat is being destroyed or modified. However, other species which inhabit pristine areas are declining as well. It has been suggested that the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (B.d.) may be one of the causes of the enigmatic declines in Mexico. We surveyed a total of 45 localities, in 12 states across Mexico, examining a total of 360 specimens representing 14 genera and 30 species. We also examined 91 specimens of Ambystoma mexicanum from a captive population in Mexico City as well as one Pachymedusa dacnicolor obtained in a pet shop. We used a two-tiered technique to detect the pathogen. For wild-caught specimens, we utilized light microscopy to identify presence of B.d. sporangia in amphibian skin. Then, to verify the infection, we used a quantitative real-time PCR assay on collected skin sections which is specific for B.d. For captive animals, we used a nonlethal version of the real-time PCR technique. We found evidence of B.d. infection in 111 animals comprising 14 species in 13 localities. A large percentage (84%) of Ambystoma mexicanum from the colony were infected with B.d. The two most highly infected individuals were the endangered Ambystoma mexicanum, from a captive colony, and Pachymedusa dacnicolor, purchased at a pet shop.
AB - Mexico, a rich country in terms of amphibian diversity, hosts about 375 described species. Population declines have been documented for several species where it is evident that their habitat is being destroyed or modified. However, other species which inhabit pristine areas are declining as well. It has been suggested that the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (B.d.) may be one of the causes of the enigmatic declines in Mexico. We surveyed a total of 45 localities, in 12 states across Mexico, examining a total of 360 specimens representing 14 genera and 30 species. We also examined 91 specimens of Ambystoma mexicanum from a captive population in Mexico City as well as one Pachymedusa dacnicolor obtained in a pet shop. We used a two-tiered technique to detect the pathogen. For wild-caught specimens, we utilized light microscopy to identify presence of B.d. sporangia in amphibian skin. Then, to verify the infection, we used a quantitative real-time PCR assay on collected skin sections which is specific for B.d. For captive animals, we used a nonlethal version of the real-time PCR technique. We found evidence of B.d. infection in 111 animals comprising 14 species in 13 localities. A large percentage (84%) of Ambystoma mexicanum from the colony were infected with B.d. The two most highly infected individuals were the endangered Ambystoma mexicanum, from a captive colony, and Pachymedusa dacnicolor, purchased at a pet shop.
KW - Amphibian declines
KW - Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
KW - Mexico
KW - Salamanders
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=43449127771&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10393-008-0155-3
DO - 10.1007/s10393-008-0155-3
M3 - Artículo
SN - 1612-9202
VL - 5
SP - 18
EP - 26
JO - EcoHealth
JF - EcoHealth
IS - 1
ER -