Chytridiomycosis Batrachochytrim dendrobatidis By: Alex Bauman

What is it and where  Chytridomycosis is an infectious disease of ampnibians that is caused by the aquatic fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.  It was first discovered in 1993 in Queensland Austraila, but soon started appearing all across the planet.  It was confirmed to be a chytrid fungus in 1998

Where is it found? Since it was discovered in the 1990s it has appeared in every other continent except Antarctica.

What it does  “Bd infects the superficial keratin containing layers of amphibian skin”  When a threshold of 10,000 Bd zoospores is reached death is assured.  “Bd ifection of amphibian skin can kill amphibians by impairing electrolyte transport to such a degree that cardiac arrest occurs”

How it is spreading It might have started out with the Xenopus laevis when this frog was being used as a early pregnancy test. Now it is spred by the international amphibian trade, pet trade, and scientific trade.

Conditions and what it kills  Bd is able to grow at temperatures from 4-25 ° C the highest being at ° C for us 54 – 73 ° F.  Bd is effecting frogs more then they are salamanders, especially the subtropical or tropical stream- breeders who live at moderate to high elevations

Life Cycle of Bd The first stage is the flagellate zoospore which is free living swimming through the water until it contracts amphibian skin. The second stage stage is the thallus which produces one or more reproductive bodies called zoosporangia.

Detecting, Curing, and Preventing Chytridiomycosis  Lack of appetite, lethargy, abnormal posture with hind legs extended along with dark spots and lack of a slime layer are symptoms of Chytridiomycosis.  There is no clear treatment for wild amphibians, but bioaugmentation for the immune system and amphibian cutaneous antifungal bacteria shows some promise for captive amphibians.  The one sure fire way to prevent Bd from spreading is to clean equipment with 10% Clorox in water.

Referances  Whittaker, Kellie. Vredenburg, Vance. An Overview of Chytridiomycoses. Amphibianweb The Regents of the University of California. 29 th January Web.  Chytridiomycosis – A fungus that has killed off over 200 species of frogs and growing. Ben The Butterfly Guy The Best Realy Framed Butterflies in Double Glass Displays. 31st January Web.