Meeting Abstract
P2.39 Tuesday, Jan. 5 Is the bufonid Anaxyrus fowleri resistant to chytrid fungus? EASTLACK, D. T.*; DAVIS, J. R.; KOUBA, A. J.; VANCE, C. K.; Memphis Zoo, TN; Rhodes College, Memphis TN; Memphis Zoo, TN; Rhodes College, Memphis TN; Memphis Zoo, TN; Memphis Zoo, TN; Mississippi State University, MS easdt@rhodes.edu
Amphibian populations are declining globally due to habitat loss, climate change and the rapid spread of the pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The purpose of this study was to determine if Bd is present in Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) populations around Memphis, TN and to assess levels of infection within the species. To determine the presence of Bd infection in A. fowleri, a total of 156 adults and 36 recently metamorphosed toads were collected from 11 locations in the Memphis metropolitan area. These toads were swabbed using standard published procedures and swabs were analyzed quantitatively for Bd using Tagman qPCR. We confirmed the presence of Bd infection at 7 of the 11 study locations in at least 9 of 156 individuals; however, populations are thriving at these sites without evidence of widespread mortality or population declines. Furthermore, those animals confirmed positive showed no visual signs of reduced health. Although Bd was found in A. fowleri individuals, the level of infection was often too low to observe in a single sampling, even considering that sub-clinical levels of Bd spores are detectable using highly sensitive qPCR analysis. The non-lethal presence of Bd in this bufonid species suggests basal levels of resistance or immunity by A. fowleri. Research shows that resistance to chytrid infection may vary among amphibian species and is often connected to the production of large quantities of host defensive peptides or bacterial flora, which can inhibit Bd growth. Further research is needed determine the mode of resistance to Bd by A. fowleri and to determine if there is potential in preventing Bd infection in other amphibian species.
