Infection patterns of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, on anuran assemblages in agro-ecosystems from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

AGOSTINI MG; BURROWES PA

PHYLLOMEDUSA

Universidad de San Pablo

Año: 2015 vol. 14 p. 113 - 126

1519-1397

The disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogenic chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been linked to extinctions and declines of amphibians. Additionally, in the context of amphibian decline, the habitat loss related to agricultural landscapes is likely the single most important human activity affecting lowland amphibian populations. In order to assess the impact of anthropogenic land use on amphibian response to Bd, we studied infection patterns in several ponds from cultivated (CA) and uncultivated areas (UCA). We monitored four amphibian species (Rhinella fernandezae, Leptodactylus latrans (juveniles and adults), Hypsiboas pulchellus and Pseudis minuta) and collected tissue samples for Bd diagnosis and quantification. All the species tested positive for Bd, but amphibians inhabiting the UCA were twice more likely to be infected than those in the CA. Prevalence and infection level were significantly higher in the UCA, suggesting that vulnerability to Bd is associated with land use in agro-ecosystems. At the assemblage-level, the infection patterns also differed among species, and those with aquatic habitats (L. latrans and P. minuta) had high prevalence and infection levels of Bd. Juvenile stages of L. latrans showed higher prevalence and infection level than adults in both study areas. This work contributes to our understanding of anthropogenic effects on host-pathogen relationships, particularly, on the effect of Bd on amphibian assemblages under different levels of agricultural impact.