Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis: A Deadly Fungus That Can Reduce Frogs’ Protective Skin Microbiota

Another pandemic, this time in the animal kngdom, is killing the world's frog species, adding to the instability of Earth's delicate environment while the world continues to fight COVID-19.

The disease is caused by the lethal fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd),

Preserving frogs from dangerous fungus

(Photo : Hubi .img/Unsplash)

Now, a groundbreaking study conducted by the University of South Australia demonstrated that, although Bd can be considerably reduced in confined frogs, captivity can have detrimental effects on the frogs' defenseless skin microbiome, offering fresh insight into diversity management, as per ScienceDaily.

While water salinity wasn't the reason for the fall, it was discovered that the infection had greatly decreased in this group of 24 captive frogs.

A natural skin-shedding process may have helped the frogs use lower Bd burdens.

90 of the 501 amphibian species that have fallen globally due to the Bd infection are currently thought to be extinct, while another 124 species have declined by more than 90%.

Currently, the illness has spread to 56 nations on six continents.

Most importantly, this study shows that the Bd infection may be eliminated among captive populations, which is crucial information for managing endangered frog species.

Scientists now assume that this is related to the frogs shedding their skin, but there are several other possible causes as well.

The findings also demonstrated that skin bacterial variety and richness were significantly reduced in captivity, most likely as a result of the loss of a microbial reservoir, extreme stress, lowered immunity, and sloughing.

Therefore, this effect must be considered in future studies.

After training in captivity, frogs will probably be sent into the wild with less resistance to infections.

To encourage a healthy microbiome, perhaps even with probiotics' assistance, more study is required.

Also Read: Water-borne Fungus That Caused the Extinction of Amphibians is Threatening Terrestrial Frogs

Chytridiomycosis

This is an amphibian skin condition brought on by one of two types of chytrid fungus. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans are their scientific names.

Unsurprisingly, Bd and Bsal are their nicknames, and even the professionals use the nicknames to refer to them, as per Amphibian Park.

The amphibian chytrid fungus is native to southern Asia, but both species have mistakenly spread to different parts of the world as a result of the trafficking of frogs for use as food, pets, or research animals.

Sometimes chytridiomycosis outbreaks arise when these chytrid fungi infiltrate areas where they did not naturally exist.

The illness has caused major decreases in native frog populations, particularly from the 1980s to the mid-2000s, which in some cases have resulted in the extinction of entire species.

The worst Bd-related epidemics occurred in Australia, Mexico, Central America, South America's Andes mountain range, and the western United States.

Not every species of amphibian that contracts Bd becomes ill or perishes. These species are thought to be resistant to chytridiomycosis, just like the American bullfrog and the African clawed frog.

Because resistant species can spread Bd to new areas and expose populations of amphibians that are vulnerable to or more likely to contract deadly chytridiomycosis, they are a serious problem.

These species are similar to Typhoid Marys.

There is a lot of ongoing scientific investigation on the causes of some amphibian species' resistance to chytridiomycosis.