Midges not only sucks, but may carry lethal pathogens to wild amphibians
Biotropica2021Vol. 53(3), pp. 722–725
Citations Over TimeTop 18% of 2021 papers
Luı́s Felipe Toledo, Joice Ruggeri, Leonardo Leite Ferraz de Campos, Marcio Roberto Martins, Selvino Neckel‐Oliveira, Crasso Paulo Bosco Breviglieri
Abstract
Abstract The chytrid fungus (Bd) is one of the main causes of recent amphibian population declines and extinctions. However, one possible disease transmission pathway remained unexplored: the insect‐borne transport between hosts. We found Bd DNA on specialized blood‐sucking midges, which could indicate the transport of alive zoospores between amphibian hosts, in this case acting as Bd carriers in the wild. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Related Papers
- → Activity of antimicrobial skin peptides from ranid frogs against Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the chytrid fungus associated with global amphibian declines(2002)170 cited
- → Sodium Chloride Inhibits the Growth and Infective Capacity of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus and Increases Host Survival Rates(2012)64 cited
- → Chemotaxis of the amphibian pathogenBatrachochytrium dendrobatidisand its response to a variety of attractants(2008)44 cited
- → Introduced Mediterranean painted frogs (Discoglossus pictus) are possible supershedders of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Catalonia (NE Spain)(2023)4 cited
- → Preserved Specimens of the Extinct Golden Toad of Monteverde (Cranopsis periglenes) Tested Negative for the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis)(2013)4 cited