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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians of Cameroon, including first records for caecilians
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, Volume 102, No. 3, Year 2013
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Description
Amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been hypothesised to be an indigenous parasite of African amphibians. In Cameroon, however, previous surveys in one region (in the northwest) failed to detect this pathogen, despite the earliest African Bd having been recorded from a frog in eastern Cameroon, plus one recent record in the far southeast. To reconcile these contrasting results, we present survey data from 12 localities across 6 regions of Cameroon from anurans (n = 1052) and caecilians (n = 85) of ca. 108 species. Bd was detected in 124 amphibian hosts at 7 localities, including Mt. Oku, Mt. Cameroon, Mt. Manengouba and lowland localities in the centre and west of the country. None of the hosts were observed dead or dying. Infected amphibian hosts were not detected in other localities in the south and eastern rainforest belt. Infection occurred in both anurans and caecilians, making this the first reported case of infection in the latter order (Gymnophiona) of amphibians. There was no significant difference between prevalence and infection intensity in frogs and caecilians. We highlight the importance of taking into account the inhibition of diagnostic qPCR in studies on Bd, based on all Bd-positive hosts being undetected when screened without bovine serum albumin in the qPCR mix. The status of Bd as an indigenous, cosmopolitan amphibian parasite in Africa, including Cameroon, is supported by this work. Isolating and sequencing strains of Bd from Cameroon should now be a priority. Longitudinal host population monitoring will be required to determine the effects, if any, of the infection on amphibians in Cameroon. © Inter-Research 2013.
Authors & Co-Authors
Doherty-Bone, Thomas M.
United Kingdom, London
The Natural History Museum, London
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology
United Kingdom, Leeds
University of Leeds
Gonwouo, Legrand Nono
Cameroon, Yaounde
Project Camherp
Hirschfeld, Mareike
Germany, Berlin
Museum Für Naturkunde
Ohst, T.
Germany, Berlin
Museum Für Naturkunde
Weldon, Ché
South Africa, Potchefstroom
North-west University
Perkins, M.
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology
Kouete, Marcel Talla
Cameroon, Yaounde
Project Camherp
Browne, Robert K.
Belgium, Antwerpen
Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp
Loader, Simon P.
United Kingdom, London
The Natural History Museum, London
Switzerland, Basel
Universitat Basel
Gower, David J.
United Kingdom, London
The Natural History Museum, London
Wilkinson, Mark W.
United Kingdom, London
The Natural History Museum, London
Rödel, Mark Oliver
Germany, Berlin
Museum Für Naturkunde
Penner, Johannes
Germany, Berlin
Museum Für Naturkunde
Barej, Michael F.
Germany, Berlin
Museum Für Naturkunde
Schmitz, Andreas
Switzerland, Geneva
Natural History Museum of Geneva
Plötner, J.
Germany, Berlin
Museum Für Naturkunde
Cunningham, Andrew Alexander
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology
Statistics
Citations: 27
Authors: 17
Affiliations: 9
Identifiers
Doi:
10.3354/dao02557
ISSN:
01775103
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Cameroon