Effectiveness of antifungal treatments during chytridiomycosis epizootics in populations of an endangered frog.

ABSTRACT: The recently-emerged amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has had an unprecedented impact on global amphibian populations, and highlights the urgent need to develop effective mitigation strategies. We conducted in-situ antifungal treatment experiments in wild populations of the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog during or immediately after Bd-caused mass die-off events. The objective of treatments was to reduce Bd infection intensity ("load") and in doing so alter frog-Bd dynamics and increase the probability of frog population persistence despite ongoing Bd infection. Experiments included treatment of early life stages (tadpoles and subadults) with the antifungal drug itraconazole, treatment of adults with itraconazole, and augmentation of the ski

SUBMITTER: Knapp RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8742549 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature