Prevalence and genetic diversity of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Central African island and continental amphibian communities.

ABSTRACT: The fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) infects hundreds of amphibian species and is implicated in global amphibian declines. Bd is comprised of several lineages that differ in pathogenicity, thus, identifying which Bd strains are present in a given amphibian community is essential for understanding host-pathogen dynamics. The presence of Bd has been confirmed in Central Africa, yet vast expanses of this region have not yet been surveyed for Bd prevalence, and the genetic diversity of Bd is largely unknown in this part of the world. Using retrospective surveys of museum specimens and contemporary field surveys, we estimated the prevalence of Bd in Central African island and continental amphibian assemblages, and genoty

SUBMITTER: Hydeman ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5632636 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature