Back to Search
Start Over
Acute mortality in California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) caused by Ribeiroia ondatrae (Class: Trematoda).
- Source :
- International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites & Wildlife; Dec2021, Vol. 16, p255-261, 7p
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- In early September 2019, a morbidity and mortality event affecting California tiger salamanders (Ambystoma californiense) and Santa Cruz long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum) in late stages of metamorphosis was reported at a National Wildlife Refuge in Santa Cruz County, California, U.S.A. During the postmortem disease investigation, severe integumentary metacercarial (Class: Trematoda) infection, associated with widespread skin lesions, was observed. Planorbid snails collected from the ponds of the refuge within seven days of the mortality event were infected with Ribeiroia ondatrae, a digenetic trematode that can cause malformation and death in some amphibians. We suggest sustained seasonal high-water levels due to active habitat management along with several years of increased rainfall led to increased bird visitation, increased over-wintering of snails, and prolonged salamander metamorphosis, resulting in a confluence of conditions and cascading of host-parasite dynamics to create a hyper-parasitized state. [Display omitted] • Mortality event in wild endangered salamanders in California. • Infection with Ribeiroia ondatrae caused severe fatal skin lesions. • Sustaining water levels may increase parasite transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 22132244
- Volume :
- 16
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites & Wildlife
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 154012380
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.10.008