Meeting Abstract

74.2  Wednesday, Jan. 6  The effects of stress hormones on infection by a fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in larval amphibians SEARLE, CL*; BELDEN, LK; BLAUSTEIN , AR; Oregon State University; Virginia Tech; Oregon State University searlec@onid.orst.edu

Pathogens are important components of ecological communities and can have large influences on species population dynamics. The fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been implicated in amphibian population declines throughout the world. Recent emergence and spread of Bd infection could be due to a number of factors, including increased susceptibility of hosts after they are exposed to environmental stressors. For example, environmental stressors can increase circulating levels of stress hormones which may result in immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to pathogens. We exposed amphibian larvae of three species to exogenous corticosterone, the main glucocorticosteroid stress hormone in amphibians, and subsequently exposed them to Bd. We compared growth, mortality and Bd infection levels among treatments and species. This study may have important implications for how environmental stressors could act to influence susceptibility to pathogens in amphibians.