Early 1900 s detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Korean amphibians.
The pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a major conservation concern because of its role in decimating amphibian populations worldwide. We used quantitative PCR to screen 244 museum specimens from the Korean Peninsula, collected between 1911 and 2004, for the presence of Bd to gain insight into its history in Asia. Three specimens of Rugosa emeljanovi (previously Rana or Glandirana rugosa), collected in 1911 from Wonsan, North Korea, tested positive for Bd. Histology of these positive specimens revealed mild hyperkeratosis - a non-specific host response commonly found in Bd-infected frogs - but no Bd zoospores or zoosporangia. Our results indicate that Bd was present in Korea more than 100 years ago, consistent with hypotheses suggesting that Korean amphibians may be infected by endemic Asian Bd strains.
School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Jonathan J
JJ
Fong
Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America; Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America.
Tina L
TL
Cheng
School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Arnaud
A
Bataille
Wildlife Disease Laboratories, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, California, United States of America.
Allan P
AP
Pessier
School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Bruce
B
Waldman
Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Vance T
VT
Vredenburg
D000663:Amphibians / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000235:genetics*; D056911:Democratic People's Republic of Korea; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D049673:History, 20th Century; D009181:Mycoses / Q000266:history / Q000662:veterinary*; D056910:Republic of Korea