Determination of Chytridiomycosis in Amphibians at Arnold Air Force Base

Abstract

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen that infects the skin of amphibians and is implicated in global amphibian declines. This study determined Bd presence and prevalence in middle Tennessee by analyzing skin swabs of Eastern Newts (Notophthalmus viridescens), Cope’s Gray Tree Frogs (Hyla chrysoscelis), and Barking Tree Frogs (Hyla gratiosa), at seven wetlands at Arnold Air Force Base, Coffee and Franklin counties, Tennessee. Bd is widespread in the area, and amphibians seem relatively tolerant of the fungus. Bd prevalence and Bd loads were much higher for Eastern Newts (82.7% prevalence; 26090.8 ± 6934.8 mean ITS1 copies) than for Cope’s Gray Tree Frogs (7.1% prevalence; 53.7 ± 32.6 mean ITS1 copies) and Barking Tree Frogs (7.9% prevalence; 103.6 ± 98.3 mean ITS1 copies), and prevalence and loads decreased during summer as air temperatures rose. Future studies should further examine the interactive effects of amphibian life histories and environmental factors on Bd resistance.