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Prevalence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in immature eastern hellbenders Cryptobranchus alleganiensis from North Carolina, USA.
Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Faculty Scholarship
  • Lauren Diaz, Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University
  • Obed Hernandez-Gomez, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California
  • Shem D Unger, Department of Biology, Wingate University
  • Lori A Williams, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
  • Catherine M Bodinof Jachowski, Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University
Department
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Document Type
Article
Source
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Publication Date
7-16-2020
Disciplines
Abstract

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been detected in wild hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis populations, with rare instances of chytridiomycosis and Bd-induced mortality. To date, Bd surveillance in hellbender populations has been disproportionately focused on adult age classes. A lingering question is whether Bd might contribute to hellbender declines through disproportionate negative effects on immature age classes. The objective of this study was to quantify Bd prevalence and load in immature hellbenders in western North Carolina, USA. We conducted field surveys during 2018 and 2019 and collected 88 skin swabs from 84 hellbenders spanning 3 age classes. Bd was detected on 11% of individuals, including 8 larvae and 1 juvenile. We did not detect symptoms of chytridiomycosis or a decline in body condition in Bd-positive hellbenders. Load varied from approximately 1-153 zoospore equivalents for the 9 Bd-positive hellbenders and was not associated with size class of the individual. While hellbenders appeared to be abundant in each survey reach, more work is needed to determine whether Bd may increase the vulnerability of immature hellbenders to anthropogenic stressors.

PubMed ID
32672152
Rights
© Inter-Research 2020
Citation Information
Lauren Diaz, Obed Hernandez-Gomez, Shem D Unger, Lori A Williams, et al.. "Prevalence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in immature eastern hellbenders Cryptobranchus alleganiensis from North Carolina, USA." Vol. 140 (2020) p. 73 - 78 ISSN: 0177-5103
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/obedhg/20/