title: Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans sp. nov. causes lethal chytridiomycosis in amphibians.
abstract: 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 remain unexplained, among them a steep decrease in fire salamander populations (Salamandra salamandra) that has brought this species to the edge of local extinction. Here we isolated and characterized a unique chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans sp. nov., from this salamander population. This chytrid causes erosive skin disease and rapid mortality in experimentally infected fire salamanders and was present in skin lesions of salamanders found dead during the decline event. Together with the closely related B. dendrobatidis, this taxon forms a well-supported chytridiomycete clade, adapted to vertebrate hosts and highly pathogenic to amphibians. However, the lower thermal growth preference of B. salamandrivorans, compared with B. dendrobatidis, and resistance of midwife toads (Alytes obstetricans) to experimental infection with B. salamandrivorans suggest differential niche occupation of the two chytrid fungi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.forename: Annemarieke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spitzen-van der Sluijs
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blooi
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bert
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ducatelle
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Antonius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woeltjes
authors.forename: Wilbert
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bosman
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chiers
authors.forename: Franky
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bossuyt
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pasmans
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D044822:Biodiversity; D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D012454:Salamandra / Q000382:microbiology*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal
keywords: amphibian decline; ecosystem health; emerging infectious disease