Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans: The North American Response and a Call for Action

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans: The North American Response and a Call for Action

1 Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America, 2 Amphibian Survival Alliance, Austin, Texas, United States of America, 3 Association of Fish andWildlife Agencies, Washington, D.C., United States of America, 4 Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America, 5 Department o...

Etymologia: Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans is the predominant chytrid fungus in Vietnamese salamanders

The amphibian chytrid fungi, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), pose a major threat to amphibian biodiversity. Recent evidence suggests Southeast Asia as a potential cradle for both fungi, which likely resulted in widespread host-pathogen co-existence. We sampled 583 salamanders from 8 species across Vietnam in 55 locations for Bsal and Bd, determined scaled mas...

Tracking the amphibian pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans using a highly specific monoclonal antibody and lateral‐flow technology

The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) causes chytridiomycosis, a lethal epizootic disease of amphibians. Rapid identification of the pathogen and biosecurity is essential to prevent its spread, but current laboratory-based tests are time-consuming and require specialist equipment. Here, we describe the generation of an IgM monoclonal antibody (mAb), 5C4, specific to Bd as well as the r...

Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans sp. nov. causes lethal chytridiomycosis in amphibians.

The current biodiversity crisis encompasses a sixth mass extinction event affecting the entire class of amphibians. The infectious disease chytridiomycosis is considered one of the major drivers of global amphibian population decline and extinction and is thought to be caused by a single species of aquatic fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. However, several amphibian population declines re...