Occurrence of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Pacific Northwestern USA

Journal of Herpetology
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Chytridiomycosis (infection by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has been associated with amphibian declines in at least four continents. We report results of disease screens from 210 pond-breeding amphibians from 37 field sites in Oregon and Washington. We detected B. dendrobatidis on 28% of sampled amphibians, and and we found -> 1 detection of B. dendrobatidis from 43% of sites. Four of seven species tested positive for B. dendrobatidis, including the Northern Red-Legged Frog (Rana aurora), Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris), and Oregon Spotted Frog (Rana pretiosa). We also detected B. dendrobatidis in nonnative American Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) from six sites in western and central Oregon. Our study and other recently published findings suggest that B. dendrobatidis has few geographic and host taxa limitations among North American anurans. Further research on virulence, transmissibility, persistence, and interactions with other stressors is needed to assess the potential impact of B. dendrobatidis on Pacific Northwestern amphibians.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Occurrence of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Pacific Northwestern USA
Series title Journal of Herpetology
DOI 10.1670/0022-1511(2007)41[145:OOTAPB]2.0.CO;2
Volume 41
Issue 1
Year Published 2007
Language English
Publisher Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Contributing office(s) Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Description 5 p.
First page 145
Last page 149
Country United States
State Oregon
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details