title: American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) Resist Infection by Multiple Isolates of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Including One Implicated in Wild Mass Mortality.
abstract: The emerging amphibian disease chytridiomycosis varies in severity depending on host species. Within species, disease susceptibility can also be influenced by pathogen variation and environmental factors. Here, we report on experimental exposures of American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) to three different isolates of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), including one implicated in causing mass mortality of wild American bullfrogs. Exposed frogs showed low infection prevalence, relatively low infection load, and lack of clinical disease. Our results suggest that environmental cofactors are likely important contributors to Bd-associated American bullfrog mortality and that this species both resists and tolerates Bd infection.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA. eaeskew@ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Evan A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1153-5356
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Eskew
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: S Joy
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Worth
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Todd
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000662:veterinary*; D004777:Environment; D011892:Rana catesbeiana; D014481:United States
keywords: Rana catesbeiana; carrier; chytridiomycosis; resistance; susceptibility; tolerance