Article
Microbiology
Lubna Mulla, Obed Hernandez-Gomez
Summary: Environmental change can disrupt natural associations between wildlife and microbial symbionts, which can harm the host's health. A study on North American terrestrial salamanders found that the skin microbiota of amphibians has species-specific responses to wildfires, although overall, wildfires alter the composition of the skin microbiota. The effects of burning on alpha diversities and body condition vary with sampling season and suggest the influence of annual climatic conditions on body condition and skin microbiota response. This study highlights the correlation between increasing wildfire disturbance and the response of skin microbiota in western North American ecosystems, emphasizing the need to consider the effects of increased wildfire regimes/intensities on wildlife-associated microbiota and animal health.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gayathri Sreedharan, Yashwant Singh Panwar, Saketh Murthy, Kaya Klop-Toker, Roberto Ibanez, Estefany E. Illueca, Rebecca Webb, Venu Govindappa, Barkha Subba, Harika Segu, Krishna Pavan Kumar Komanduri, Karthikeyan Vasudevan
Summary: Chytridiomycosis, caused by two chytrid fungi, is a devastating infectious disease in amphibians, leading to unprecedented loss in global amphibian diversity. Efficient surveillance and monitoring is crucial in preventing further declines or extinctions of amphibian populations.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristyn A. Robinson, Sarah M. Prostak, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Lillian K. Fritz-Laylin
Summary: The frog-killing chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is rapidly triggered into its reproductive state when exposed to amphibian mucus, a process that does not require gene expression but relies on surface adhesion, calcium signaling, and modulation of the actin cytoskeleton.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudio Azat
Summary: Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) pose a threat to biodiversity and human health, with genetic variability of pathogens causing different impacts at the population level. Global spread of pathogens is facilitated by globalization of transport, such as air travel rapidly spreading pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the genetic diversity of pathogens is crucial in developing timely mitigation strategies.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pria N. Ghosh, Ruhan Verster, Thomas R. Sewell, Simon J. O'Hanlon, Lola M. Brookes, Adrien Rieux, Trenton W. J. Garner, Che Weldon, Matthew C. Fisher
Summary: The study presents a molecular diagnostic method that can differentiate between the two main lineages of Bd, and demonstrates its application in monitoring wild amphibian populations in Southern Africa.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2021)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Zhongle Li, Qi Wang, Keping Sun, Jiang Feng
Summary: Chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) poses a consistent threat to amphibians worldwide from 2000 to 2021, with different prevalence rates influenced by factors such as region, disease dynamic, detection method, host, and climate. Bd prevalence was highest in Oceania and Venezuela, while Asia had the lowest rate. It is recommended to formulate corresponding control plans based on different habitats and geographical conditions to reduce the severity of such diseases.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Onil Ballestas, Margarita Lampo, Diego Rodriguez
Summary: Research has shown that the dynamics of Bd infection in harlequin toads are influenced more by variations in adult recruitment and the persistence of zoospores in the environment, rather than changes in the vulnerability of toads to infection. This highlights the importance of identifying mechanisms to ensure adult recruitment or minimize transmission from potential reservoirs for recovering populations.
Article
Biology
Chloe Ramsay, Jason R. Rohr
Summary: Immunity changes through ontogeny and can mediate interactions between co-infecting parasites. Host immunity development alters the host responses to parasite exposures across different life stages. A study conducted on Cuban treefrogs exposed to fungus (Bd) and nematodes (A. hamatospicula) at different life stages found ontogenetic differences in immunity, but no evidence of increased immunosuppression in metamorphic frogs. There was also little evidence of facilitative interactions between the parasites, but Bd infection decreased immunity in metamorphic frogs, making them more susceptible to infection.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Coby A. McDonald, C. Guilherme Becker, Carolina Lambertini, L. Felipe Toledo, Celio F. B. Haddad, Kelly R. Zamudio
Summary: Infectious diseases of wildlife pose a threat to biodiversity globally, but the virulence and host responses to pathogens are not uniform. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a fungus that causes amphibian decline, consists of a highly virulent lineage (Bd-GPL) and multiple geographically restricted lineages. This study examines the host immune response to Bd-GPL and a geographically restricted lineage (Bd-Brazil) in pumpkin toadlets.
Article
Microbiology
Kieran A. Bates, Ulf Sommer, Kevin P. Hopkins, Jennifer M. G. Shelton, Claudia Wierzbicki, Christopher Sergeant, Benjamin Tapley, Christopher J. Michaels, Dirk S. Schmeller, Adeline Loyau, Jaime Bosch, Mark R. Viant, Xavier A. Harrison, Trenton W. J. Garner, Matthew C. Fisher
Summary: The skin microbial community structure of amphibians is linked to the clinical outcome of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (8d) infections. This study used multi-omics analyses in laboratory and field settings to demonstrate that 8d infection alters microbiome taxonomic and functional profiles.
Article
Microbiology
Leni Lammens, An Martel, Frank Pasmans
Summary: Research shows that peracetic acid (PAA) can effectively kill the highly virulent Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), helping to mitigate the spread of Chytridiomycosis disease and having no obvious adverse effects on tadpoles. However, the use of PAA can lead to a decrease in pH and dissolved oxygen in water, which needs to be addressed through aeration.
Article
Microbiology
Myra C. Hughey, Eria A. Rebollar, Reid N. Harris, Roberto Ibanez, Stephen C. Loftus, Leanna L. House, Kevin P. C. Minbiole, Molly C. Bletz, Daniel Medina, William R. Shoemaker, Meredith C. Swartwout, Lisa K. Belden
Summary: The variation in host-associated microbial communities is correlated with disease occurrence and severity in different host species, suggesting the important role of the microbiome in pathogen defense. This study investigates the relationship between microbial communities and infection dynamics in amphibians, showing that the microbiome can mediate or be altered by pathogen exposure.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Noah Wax, Jenifer B. Walke, David C. Haak, Lisa K. Belden
Summary: This study sequenced the whole genomes of bacterial isolates from amphibian skin in the Eastern US and tested their ability to inhibit the growth of the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The results revealed differences in gene families and biosynthetic gene clusters among the isolates, suggesting potential mechanisms for inhibiting Bd growth. Further research is needed to explore and verify these hypotheses.
Article
Microbiology
Koichi Goka, Jun Yokoyama, Atsushi Tominaga
Summary: Research on the frog chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has made little progress in Japan since around 2010, but it was pointed out in 2009 that the origin of Bd may be in the East Asian region, including Japan. Many native amphibian species in Japan show resistance to Bd infection.
Article
Ecology
Samantha L. Rumschlag, Sadie A. Roth, Taegan A. McMahon, Jason R. Rohr, David J. Civitello
Summary: Heterogeneities in infections among host populations can arise from differences in environmental conditions affecting host exposure and susceptibility to pathogens. The study found that variation in pathogen mortality rates among different water sources drove differences in infection prevalence, rather than differences in per capita transmission rates. This suggests that environmental factors influencing pathogen survival may play a key role in infection dynamics.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Felipe Silva de Andrade, Isabelle Aquemi Haga, Mariana Lucio Lyra, Thiago Gazoni, Victor Zaracho, Celio Fernando Baptista Haddad, Luis Felipe Toledo, Ariovaldo Antonio Giaretta
Summary: In recent years, there has been an increase in taxonomic knowledge of Pseudopaludicola, allowing for a better understanding of the geographic distributions of species within this genus. This study accessed new data to evaluate the geographic distribution of P. boliviana and several species within the P. saltica group, providing new records and insights.
STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Lucas Rodriguez Forti, Maria Rita de Melo Sampaio, Clara Resende Pires, Judit K. Szabo, Luis Felipe Toledo
Summary: This study explores the effect of noise on amphibians' acoustic communication and finds that frogs can adjust their calls to minimize the masking effect of background noise by reducing the frequency bandwidth.
BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen, Luis Felipe Toledo, Taran Grant
Summary: Non-native species are a significant problem in various biomes worldwide. Understanding their population genetics is essential to comprehend their invasion history and dynamics. This study assessed the population structure of the non-native American bullfrog in Brazil, using genetic analysis of samples collected from feral and captive groups. The results indicated that there are two distinct populations of bullfrogs in Brazil, with limited genetic exchange between them. Additionally, there was no genetic differentiation between feral and captive populations, suggesting continuous releases. The findings also highlighted the importance of preventing escapes from farms to control the feral bullfrog population.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Janaina de Andrade Serrano, Luis Felipe Toledo, Lilian Patricia Sales
Summary: This study investigates the influence of scale on different drivers affecting the occurrence of the chytrid fungus in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. The Human Footprint Index was found to have a greater impact on the occurrence of the pathogenic species compared to biotic and abiotic factors. However, no differences in the relative influence of predictors were observed at the landscape scale.
PERSPECTIVES IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Matheus de Toledo Moroti, Marcos Rafael Severgnini, Joao Pedro Bolovon, Luis Felipe Toledo, Edelcio Muscat
Summary: We monitored a population of Paratelmatobius mantiqueira for 13 months, gathering new data on external morphology, acoustic repertoire, and behaviors of the species. We found that temperature and humidity influenced the detectability of the species.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cinnamon S. Mittan-Moreau, Crystal Kelehear, Luis Felipe Toledo, Jamie Bacon, Juan M. Guayasamin, Andrew Snyder, Kelly R. Zamudio
Summary: This study investigated the establishment success of cane toads across their introduced range by examining the roles of introduction history and genetic diversity. The researchers found that Florida populations were more closely related to native Central American lineages, and there were high levels of diversity and population structure in the native range, supporting the idea that cane toads are a species complex. The study also revealed that introduced populations have slightly lower genetic diversity compared to native populations.
Article
Zoology
Natalya de Araujo Pedrosa Lima, Raoni Reboucas, Luis Felipe Toledo, Cybele Sabino Lisboa
Summary: This study evaluated the influence of traffic noise on call parameters of Bokermannohyla hylax. The results showed that traffic noise had an impact on call duration and signal-to-noise ratio, but not on spectral variables. This suggests that traffic noise can potentially affect the long-term survival of the species in noisy environments.
ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luis Felipe Toledo, Sergio Potsch de Carvalho-e-Silva, Ana Maria Paulino Telles de Carvalho-e-Silva, Joao Luiz Gasparini, Delio Baeta, Raoni Reboucas, Celio F. B. Haddad, C. Guilherme Becker, Tamilie Carvalho
Summary: Amphibian declines are a global problem, and Brazil's Atlantic Forest is a hotspot for these declines. Previous reports underestimated the extent and complexity of historical declines in amphibian populations. Our refined review reveals that the Atlantic Forest has one of the highest rates of amphibian declines and extinctions globally.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Carolina Lambertini, Julia R. Ernetti, Alexandre F. R. Missassi, Rafael F. Jorge, Domingos da Silva Leite, Albertina P. Lima, Luis Felipe Toledo
Summary: Infectious diseases pose a major threat to biodiversity, and the dynamics of Bd infection in the Brazilian Amazon are not yet well understood. This study found a high prevalence of Bd infection in the region, with both biotic and abiotic factors influencing infection rates. Additionally, different strains of Bd had varying effects on the host's mortality.
DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Joelma S. Prado, Julia R. Ernetti, Mariana Retuci Pontes, L. Felipe Toledo
Summary: This research provides evidence that fog water may serve as a pathway for the transmission of the amphibian-killing fungus Bd. The study shows the passive transport of live Bd zoospores through artificial fog can infect susceptible hosts and lead to lethal chytridiomycosis. These findings are important for understanding the exposure mechanisms of direct-developing amphibians to aquatic pathogens and can aid in the development of control measures.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lucas M. Botelho, Ana Clara F. Barbosa, Joelma S. Prado, Mariana Pedrozo, Matheus de Toledo Moroti, L. Felipe Toledo, Edelcio Muscat
Summary: The genus Dendrophryniscus includes 16 species of frogs endemic to the Atlantic Forest. They have different habitat preferences and reproductive strategies. Additional information such as natural history, larval morphology, and molecular and acoustic data would contribute to better species identification.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Coby A. McDonald, C. Guilherme Becker, Carolina Lambertini, L. Felipe Toledo, Celio F. B. Haddad, Kelly R. Zamudio
Summary: Infectious diseases of wildlife pose a threat to biodiversity globally, but the virulence and host responses to pathogens are not uniform. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a fungus that causes amphibian decline, consists of a highly virulent lineage (Bd-GPL) and multiple geographically restricted lineages. This study examines the host immune response to Bd-GPL and a geographically restricted lineage (Bd-Brazil) in pumpkin toadlets.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carlos Henrique de-Oliveira-Nogueira, Ubirata Ferreira Souza, Thaynara Mendes Machado, Caio Antonio Figueiredo-de-Andrade, Alexander Tamanini Monico, Ivan Sazima, Marlies Sazima, Luis Felipe Toledo
Summary: Pollination and seed dispersal are crucial for plant survival, with mammals and birds being the main players. Surprisingly, the amphibian species Xenohyla truncata has been observed consuming various plant parts, including fruits, flowers, and nectar, and carrying pollen grains on its back. This unexpected interaction suggests that the treefrog may serve as a potential pollinator, in addition to its known role as a seed disperser. This unique finding highlights unforeseen relationships between amphibians and plants.
Article
Zoology
Ana Glaucia da Silva Martins, Raoni Reboucas, Isaias Santos, Adao Henrique Rosa Domingos, Luis Felipe Toledo
Summary: Tadpoles in aquatic environments are important prey for various predators. Tail injury delays metamorphosis and may impact individual survival.
ACTA HERPETOLOGICA
(2022)