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Pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis, a cause of catastrophic amphibian declines.
- Source :
-
Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] 2009 Oct 23; Vol. 326 (5952), pp. 582-5. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- The pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which causes the skin disease chytridiomycosis, is one of the few highly virulent fungi in vertebrates and has been implicated in worldwide amphibian declines. However, the mechanism by which Bd causes death has not been determined. We show that Bd infection is associated with pathophysiological changes that lead to mortality in green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea). In diseased individuals, electrolyte transport across the epidermis was inhibited by >50%, plasma sodium and potassium concentrations were respectively reduced by approximately 20% and approximately 50%, and asystolic cardiac arrest resulted in death. Because the skin is critical in maintaining amphibian homeostasis, disruption to cutaneous function may be the mechanism by which Bd produces morbidity and mortality across a wide range of phylogenetically distant amphibian taxa.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Anura physiology
Chloride Channels metabolism
Dermatomycoses drug therapy
Dermatomycoses microbiology
Dermatomycoses physiopathology
Electrolytes administration & dosage
Electrolytes blood
Electrolytes metabolism
Epidermis pathology
Heart physiopathology
Heart Arrest physiopathology
Heart Arrest veterinary
Homeostasis
Ion Transport
Potassium blood
Potassium metabolism
Sodium blood
Sodium metabolism
Sodium Channels metabolism
Water-Electrolyte Imbalance physiopathology
Water-Electrolyte Imbalance veterinary
Anura microbiology
Chytridiomycota pathogenicity
Dermatomycoses veterinary
Epidermis microbiology
Epidermis physiopathology
Water-Electrolyte Balance
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1095-9203
- Volume :
- 326
- Issue :
- 5952
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Science (New York, N.Y.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19900897
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1176765