First report of chytridiomycosis in the Southern Yungas Andean forest: a new threat to the endangered La Banderita marsupial frog Gastrotheca gracilis

DOPAZO JUDITH; KRUGER A.; CORREA ELENA; LÉRTORA WJ; BOULLHESEN MARTIN; BERKUNSKY IGOR; AKMENTINS S. MAURICIO

HERPETOLOGICAL JOURNAL

BRITISH HERPETOL SOC

Lugar: Montrose, Angus, UK; Año: 2023

0268-0130

We present the first record of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) infection in the endangered La Banderita marsupial frog (Gastrotheca gracilis). We analysed histological sections from two post-metamorphic individuals and swab samples from the oral discs of 20 tadpoles. Histological sections revealed the presence of zoosporangia of Bd in different maturation stages. The molecular analysis indicated a prevalence of 60% of Bd on tadpoles. We confirmed that La Banderita marsupial frog is susceptible to Bd infection, which represents a new threat to this species and could further affect its population´s viability.