title: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection of amphibians in the Doñana National Park, Spain.
abstract: Amphibian chytridiomycosis, caused by infection with the non-hyphal, zoosporic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an emerging infectious disease recognised as a cause of recent amphibian population declines and extinctions worldwide. The Doñana National Park (DNP) is located in southwestern Spain, a country with widespread Bd infection. This protected area has a great diversity of aquatic habitats that constitute important breeding habitats for 11 native amphibian species. We sampled 625 amphibians in December 2007 and February to March 2008, months that correspond to the early and intermediate breeding seasons for amphibians, respectively. We found 7 of 9 sampled species to be infected with Bd and found differences in prevalence between sampling periods. Although some amphibians tested had higher intensities of infection than others, all animals sampled were apparently healthy and, so far, there has been no evidence of either unusually high rates of mortality or amphibian population declines in the DNP.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK. judit@mail.ebd.csic.es
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hidalgo-Vila
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz-Paniagua
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005618:Fresh Water; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology