Asymptomatic infection of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans in captivity.

ABSTRACT: One of the most important factors driving amphibian declines worldwide is the infectious disease, chytridiomycosis. Two fungi have been associated with this disease, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal). The latter has recently driven Salamandra salamandra populations to extirpation in parts of the Netherlands, and Belgium, and potentially also in Germany. Bsal has been detected in the pet trade, which has been hypothesized to be the pathway by which it reached Europe, and which may continuously contribute to its spread. In the present study, 918 amphibians belonging to 20 captive collections in Germany and Sweden were sampled to explore the extent of Bsal presence in captivity. The fungus was detected by quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) in ten collect

SUBMITTER: Sabino-Pinto J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6078946 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature