Fast Facts on the Chytrid Fungus

Date: September 10, 2015

By: Ken Harkewicz VMD

Second Author:Christal Pollock, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice)

Keywords: , , ,

Categories: Amphibians,  Reptiles & Amphibians, 

The non-hyphal, zoosporic, chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has caused widespread and dramatic population declines in both wild and captive amphibians worldwide. Use this table to review the basics of the infectious disease chytridiomycosis . . .

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References

  1. Baitchman EJ, Pessier AP. Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of amphibian chytridiomycosis. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 16(3):669-685, 2013. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2013.05.009.
  2. Brannelly LA. Reduced itraconazole concentration and durations are successful in treating Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection in amphibians. J Vis Exp 85:2014. doi: 10.3791/51166.
  3. Brannelly LA, Richards-Zawacki CL, Pessier AP. Clinical trials with itraconazole as a treatment for chytrid fungal infections in amphibians. Dis Aquat Organ 101(2):95-104, 2012. doi: 10.3354/dao02521.
  4. Densmore CL, Green DE. Diseases of amphibians. ILAR Journal 48(3):235-254, 2007. doi: 10.1093/ilar.48.3.235.
  5. Jones ME, Paddock D, Bender L, et al. Treatment of chytridiomycosis with reduced-dose itraconazole. Dis Aquatic Organ 99(3):243-249, 2012. doi: 10.3354/dao02475.
  6. Murphy BG, Hillman C, Groff JM. Chytridiomycosis in dwarf African frogs Hymenochirus curtipes. Dis Aquat Organ 114(1):69-75, 2015. doi: 10.3354/dao02851.
  7. Pessier AP. Diagnosis and control of amphibian chytridiomycosis. In: Miller RE, Fowler ME, editors. Zoo and wild animal medicine: current therapy, vol. 7. St Louis (MO): Elsevier Saunders; 2012. p. 217–223.
  8. Retallick RW, Miera V. Strain differences in the amphibian chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and non-permanent, sub-lethal effects of infection. Dis Aquat Organ 2007;75(3):201–207. doi: 10.3354/dao075201.
  9. Stadler C. Chytridiomycosis disease. American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Infectious Disease Committee Manual. May 30, 2013. Available at http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.aazv.org/resource/resmgr/IDM/IDM_Chytridiomycosis_Disease.pdf. Accessed on July 5, 2015.
  10. Stockwell MP, Storrie LJ, Pollard CJ, et al. Effects of pond salinization on survival rate of amphibian hosts infected with the chytrid fungus. Conserv Biol 29(2):391-399, 2015. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12402.
  11. Stockwell MP, Clulow J, Mahony MJ. Sodium chloride inhibits the growth and infective capacity of the amphibian chytrid fungus and increases host survival rates. PLoS One 7(5):e36942, 2012. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036942.
  12. Woodhams DC, Alford RA, Marantelli G. Emerging disease of amphibians cured by elevated body temperature. Dis Aquat Organ 2003;55(1):65–67. doi: 10.3354/dao055065.
  13. Young S, Speare R, Berger L, Skerratt LF. Chloramphenicol with fluid and electrolyte therapy cures terminally ill green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea) with chytridiomycosis. J Zoo Wildl Med 43(2):330-337, 2012. doi: 10.1638/2011-0231.1.

 

Further reading

Ellison AR, Tunstall T, DiRenzo GV, et al. More than skin deep: functional genomic basis for resistance to amphibian chytridiomycosis. Genome Biol Evol 7(1):286-298, 2014. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evu285. PMID: 25539724; PMCID: PMC4316636.

Holden WM, Fites JS, Reinert LK, Rollins-Smith LA. Nikkomycin Z is an effective inhibitor of the chytrid fungus linked to global amphibian declines. Fungal Biol 118(1):48-60, 2014. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2013.11.001.

Jani AJ, Briggs CJ. The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis disturbs the frog skin microbiome during a natural epidemic and experimental infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 111(47):E5049-E5058, 2014. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1412752111.

 

 

To cite this page:

Harkewicz K, Pollock C. Fast facts on the chytrid fungus. LafeberVet Web site. Available at  https://lafeber.com/vet/fast-facts-on-the-chytrid-fungus/