Pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis, a cause of catastrophic amphibian declines.
The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which causes the skin disease chytridiomycosis, is one of the few highly virulent fungi in vertebrates and has been implicated in worldwide amphibian declines. However, the mechanism by which Bd causes death has not been determined. We show that Bd infection is associated with pathophysiological changes that lead to mortality in green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea). In diseased individuals, electrolyte transport across the epidermis was inhibited by >50%, plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were respectively reduced by approximately 20% and approximately 50%, and asystolic cardiac arrest resulted in death. Because the skin is critical in maintaining amphibian homeostasis, disruption to cutaneous function may be the mechanism by which Bd produces morbidity and mortality across a wide range of phylogenetically distant amphibian taxa.
Voyles
Jamie
J
School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, Amphibian Disease Ecology Group, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia. jamie.voyles@gmail.com
Young
Sam
S
Berger
Lee
L
Campbell
Craig
C
Voyles
Wyatt F
WF
Dinudom
Anuwat
A
Cook
David
D
Webb
Rebecca
R
Alford
Ross A
RA
Skerratt
Lee F
LF
Speare
Rick
R
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004817:Epidermis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D006706:Homeostasis; D017136:Ion Transport; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary
D018118:Chloride Channels; D004573:Electrolytes; D015222:Sodium Channels; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium