Chytrid fungus in frogs from an equatorial African montane forest in western Uganda.
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, the causative agent of chytridiomycosis, was found in 24 of 109 (22%) frogs from Kibale National Park, western Uganda, in January and June 2006, representing the first account of the fungus in six species and in Uganda. The presence of B. dendrobatidis in an equatorial African montane forest raises conservation concerns, considering the high amphibian diversity and endemism characteristic of such areas and their ecological similarity to other regions of the world experiencing anuran declines linked to chytridiomycosis.
Goldberg
Tony L
TL
Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA. tlgoldbe@uiuc.edu
Readel
Anne M
AM
Lee
Mary H
MH
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000382:microbiology*; D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D013045:Species Specificity; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
D004271:DNA, Fungal