Xenopus laevis and Emerging Amphibian Pathogens in Chile.
Amphibians face an extinction crisis with no precedence. Two emerging infectious diseases, ranaviral disease caused by viruses within the genus Ranavirus and chytridiomycosis due to Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), have been linked with amphibian mass mortalities and population declines in many regions of the globe. The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) has been indicated as a vector for the spread of these pathogens. Since the 1970s, this species has been invasive in central Chile. We collected X. laevis and dead native amphibians in Chile between 2011 and 2013. We conducted post-mortem examinations and molecular tests for Ranavirus and Bd. Eight of 187 individuals (4.3 %) tested positive for Ranavirus: seven X. laevis and a giant Chilean frog (Calyptocephallela gayi). All positive cases were from the original area of X. laevis invasion. Bd was found to be more prevalent (14.4 %) and widespread than Ranavirus, and all X. laevis Bd-positive animals presented low to moderate levels of infection. Sequencing of a partial Ranavirus gene revealed 100 % sequence identity with Frog Virus 3. This is the first report of Ranavirus in Chile, and these preliminary results are consistent with a role for X. laevis as an infection reservoir for both Ranavirus and Bd.
Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Andres Bello, Republica 440, Santiago, Chile. csoto@unab.cl.
Claudio
C
Soto-Azat
Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Andres Bello, Republica 440, Santiago, Chile.
Alexandra
A
Peñafiel-Ricaurte
UCL Genetics Institute, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.|Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.
Stephen J
SJ
Price
Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Andres Bello, Republica 440, Santiago, Chile.
Nicole
N
Sallaberry-Pincheira
Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Andres Bello, Republica 440, Santiago, Chile.|Molecular Virology Laboratory, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Av. Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, Chile.
María Pía
MP
García
Facultad de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigación Para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Andres Bello, Republica 440, Santiago, Chile.
Mario
M
Alvarado-Rybak
Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK.
Andrew A
AA
Cunningham
D000663:Amphibians; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002677:Chile; D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017995:Ranavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; Chile; Emerging infectious diseases; Ranavirus; Reservoir; Xenopus laevis
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