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Recent introduction of a chytrid fungus endangers Western Palearctic salamanders

2014; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 346; Issue: 6209 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.1258268

1095-9203

An Martel, Mark Blooi, Connie Adriaensen, Pascale Van Rooij, Wouter Beukema, Matthew C. Fisher, Rhys A. Farrer, Benedikt R. Schmidt, Ursina Tobler, Koichi Goka, Karen R. Lips, Carly R. Muletz‐Wolz, Kelly R. Zamudio, Jaime Bosch, Stefan Lötters, Emma Wombwell, Trenton W. J. Garner, Andrew A. Cunningham, Annemarieke Spitzen–van der Sluijs, Sebastiano Salvidio, Richard Ducatelle, Kanto Nishikawa, Tao Thien Nguyen, Jonathan E. Kolby, Ines Van Bocxlaer, Franky Bossuyt, Frank Pasmans,

Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities

Emerging infectious diseases are reducing biodiversity on a global scale. Recently, the emergence of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans resulted in rapid declines in populations of European fire salamanders. Here, we screened more than 5000 amphibians from across four continents and combined experimental assessment of pathogenicity with phylogenetic methods to estimate the threat that this infection poses to amphibian diversity. Results show that B. salamandrivorans is restricted to, but highly pathogenic for, salamanders and newts (Urodela). The pathogen likely originated and remained in coexistence with a clade of salamander hosts for millions of years in Asia. As a result of globalization and lack of biosecurity, it has recently been introduced into naïve European amphibian populations, where it is currently causing biodiversity loss.