biostudies-literatureSalla RFBrazilian Institute of Comparative PhysiologyFoundation for support of research of São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordination of Improvement of Higher Level Personnel CAPES (Master’s fellowship)Research grantNational Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPqe5891https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6228586biostudies-literatureUnknown6<h4>Background</h4>Understanding of the physiological effects of chytridiomycosis is crucial to worldwide amphibian conservation. Therefore, we analyzed the cardiac function of two anuran species (<i>Xenopus laevis</i> and <i>Physalaemus albonotatus</i>) with different susceptibilities to infection by the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> (hereafter <i>Bd</i>).<h4>Methods</h4>We analyzed the <i>in situ</i> heart rate (<i>f</i> _<i>H</i> - bpm), relative ventricular mass (RVM -%), and Ca²⁺ handling in heart of <i>Bd</i> infected animals compared to uninfected controls of both study species.<h4>Results</h4><i>Bd</i> infection resulted in a 78% decrease in contraction force values in <i>P. albonotatus</i> when compared to the less PeerJNovel findings on the impact of chytridiomycosis on the cardiac function of anurans: sensitive vs. tolerant species.PMC6228586#2014/23388-708/57712-4#405285/2013-2573921/2008-3#302589/2013-9Franco-Belussi LOliveira CRLeite DSSilva-Zacarin ECMSalla RFJones-Costa MJenkinson TSLambertini CAbdalla FCToledo LFRizzi-Possignolo GMfalseNovel findings on the impact of chytridiomycosis on the cardiac function of anurans: sensitive vs. tolerant species.<h4>Background</h4>Understanding of the physiological effects of chytridiomycosis is crucial to worldwide amphibian conservation. Therefore, we analyzed the cardiac function of two anuran species (<i>Xenopus laevis</i> and <i>Physalaemus albonotatus</i>) with different susceptibilities to infection by the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, <i>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</i> (hereafter <i>Bd</i>).<h4>Methods</h4>We analyzed the <i>in situ</i> heart rate (<i>f</i> _<i>H</i> - bpm), relative ventricular mass (RVM -%), and Ca²⁺ handling in heart of <i>Bd</i> infected animals compared to uninfected controls of both study species.<h4>Results</h4><i>Bd</i> infection resulted in a 78% decrease in contraction force values in <i>P. albonotatus</i> when compared to the less 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z20182026-07-07T03:10:09.96Z2026-07-07T03:07:50.515ZS-EPMC62285863042589110.7717/peerj.5891