The Last South American Redoubt? Tested Surinamese Anurans Still Chytrid Free

AbstractBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a chytrid fungus infecting amphibians ’ cutaneous layer, is responsible for the greatest contemporary loss of amphibian biodiversity. In South America, Suriname is one of the only three countries whereB. dendrobatidis infections of anurans (frogs and toads) have not been documented. To further examine this apparent gap in pathogen occurrence, frogs were sampled forB. dendrobatidis spores at eight disparate geographic locations in Suriname, including locations with high and low levels of anthropogenic activities, and near Suriname ’s border with Brazil and French Guiana, countries whereB. dendrobatidis infections have been documented. None of the 347 frogs sampled, representing 37 species from eight families, tested positive forB. dendrobatidis. Our results provide the baseline data for future comparative testing and one of the last opportunities for a country in South America to proactively plan mitigation measures to protect amphibians fromB. dendrobatidis’ presumed eventual incursion into Suriname.
Source: EcoHealth - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research