Potential influence of plant chemicals on infectivity of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

Andrew Larsen¹  Elizabeth W. Davidson¹  Crystal Meins Palmer¹ 

关键词: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis;    Ambystoma tigrinum;    Eucalyptus;    Quercus;    Oak;    Inhibition;   

DOI  :  10.3354/dao02505

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT: We explored whether extracts of trees frequently found associated with amphibian habitats in Australia and Arizona, USA, may be inhibitory to the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has been associated with global amphibian declines. We used salamanders Ambystoma tigrinum as the model system. Salamanders acquired significantly lower loads of Bd when exposed on leaves and extracts from the river red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and loads were also low in some animals exposed on extracts of 2 oak species, Quercus emoryi and Q. turbinella. Some previously infected salamanders had their pathogen loads reduced, and some were fully cured, by placing them in leaf extracts, although some animals also self cured when housed in water alone. A significant number of animals cured of Bd infections 6 mo earlier were found to be resistant to reinfection. These results suggest that plants associated with amphibian habitats should be taken into consideration when explaining the prevalence of Bd in these habitats and that some amphibians may acquire resistance to the fungus if previously cured.

【 授权许可】

Unknown