BATRACHOCHYTRIUM DENDROBATIDIS OCCURRENCE IN DEAD AMPHIBIANS OF CENTRAL MEXICO: A REPORT OF Ambystoma altamirani AND Lithobates montezumae.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2021.1.209Keywords:
Quitridiomicosis, anfibios, declives, enfermedades infecciosas., Chytridiomycosis, amphibians, declines, infectious disease.Abstract
Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), is an infectious disease of amphibians linked to mass amphibian die-offs worldwide. In this study, we sampled four dead and dying individuals of Ambystoma altamirani and Lithobates montezumae to detect the presence of Bd and Bsal. By real-time PCR (qPCR) and histopathology methods, we found the presence of Bd and the absence of Bsal in all individuals sampled. Our study indicates that chytridiomycosis may act as a threat for these species and highlight that future surveys are urgently needed to evaluate the Bd infection on populations of A. altamirani and L. montezumae.