title: Pathological and phylogenetic characterization of Amphibiothecum sp. infection in an isolated amphibian (Lissotriton helveticus) population on the island of Rum (Scotland).
abstract: Outbreaks of cutaneous infectious disease in amphibians are increasingly being attributed to an overlooked group of fungal-like pathogens, the Dermocystids. During the last 10 years on the Isle of Rum, Scotland, palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus) have been reportedly afflicted by unusual skin lesions. Here we present pathological and molecular findings confirming that the pathogen associated with these lesions is a novel organism of the order Dermocystida, and represents the first formally reported, and potentially lethal, case of amphibian Dermocystid infection in the UK. Whilst the gross pathology and the parasite cyst morphology were synonymous to those described in a study from infected L. helveticus in France, we observed a more extreme clinical outcome on Rum involving severe subcutaneous oedema. Phylogenetic topologies supported synonymy between Dermocystid sequences from Rum and France and as well as their distinction from Amphibiocystidium spp. Phylogenetic analysis also suggested that the amphibian-infecting Dermocystids are not monophyletic. We conclude that the L. helveticus-infecting pathogen represents a single, novel species; Amphibiothecum meredithae.
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies & The Roslin Institute,University of Edinburgh,Roslin EH25 9RG,UK.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiegna
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies & The Roslin Institute,University of Edinburgh,Roslin EH25 9RG,UK.
authors.forename: Charlotte L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies & The Roslin Institute,University of Edinburgh,Roslin EH25 9RG,UK.
authors.forename: Darren J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies & The Roslin Institute,University of Edinburgh,Roslin EH25 9RG,UK.
authors.forename: Johanna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Baily
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London,Regent's Park,NW1 4RY London,UK.
authors.forename: Frances C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Clare
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London,Regent's Park,NW1 4RY London,UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London,Regent's Park,NW1 4RY London,UK.
authors.forename: Trenton W J
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.affiliation: Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies & The Roslin Institute,University of Edinburgh,Roslin EH25 9RG,UK.
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Meredith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D062312:Islands; D050298:Mesomycetozoea / Q000235:genetics*; D050738:Mesomycetozoea Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: 
                 Amphibiocystidium
              ; 
                 Amphibiothecum
              ; 
                 Dermocystidium
              ; infection; palmate newts; pathology; phylogenetics