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Ballestero E, Bolaños F, Ruepert C, Jiménez RR, Bonilla F, Sasa M. Immunological and physiological responses to predation risk and sublethal concentrations of chlorothalonil and β-endosulfan in Lithobates taylori (Anura: Ranidae) tadpoles. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 275:107071. [PMID: 39236548 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.107071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2024] [Revised: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Pesticide exposure and its interaction with other natural stressors can play a role in amphibian population declines because disruptions in stress hormone regulatory mechanisms may inhibit immune responses during metamorphosis. Here, we determined the interactive effects of predation risk and sublethal concentration of two pesticides on immunological and physiological responses in tadpoles of the tropical frog Lithobates taylori. Using mesocosms, we used chronic exposure to three levels of chlorothalonil and β-endosulfan in the presence or absence of Odonate larvae. Our results show that β-endosulfan in high concentrations reduced the weight of the tadpoles and increased the neutrophil count and corticosterone (CORT) levels. Larval development was accelerated by high concentrations of chlorothalonil. Also, this pesticide in low and high concentrations increases the absolute values of lymphocytes. Tadpoles exposed to chlorothalonil increased the numbers of monocytes (in low concentrations), and lymphocytes (in high and low concentrations). The interactions of the low concentrations of both pesticides with and without the predator's presence also increased the number of lymphocytes. A combination of pesticides increases the number of lymphocytes in the blood due to synergistic cytotoxicity. This study proves that β- endosulfan elevates circulating CORT and thus generates physiological stress in tadpoles. Given that both pesticides are widely used within the distribution of L. taylori in Costa Rica, it is likely that tadpoles' development and immune function are altered by pesticide use. In combination with stressors such as emerging diseases and altered precipitation regimes, widespread agrochemical uses likely caused this species enigmatic decline in recent decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Ballestero
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060, Costa Rica; Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060, Costa Rica.
| | - Federico Bolaños
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060, Costa Rica
| | - Clemens Ruepert
- Instituto Regional de Estudios en Sustancias Tóxicas, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 3000, Costa Rica
| | - Randall R Jiménez
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Fabian Bonilla
- Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060, Costa Rica
| | - Mahmood Sasa
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060, Costa Rica; Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060, Costa Rica
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Tytar V, Nekrasova O, Pupins M, Skute A, Kirjušina M, Gravele E, Mezaraupe L, Marushchak O, Čeirāns A, Kozynenko I, Kulikova AA. Modeling the Distribution of the Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis with Special Reference to Ukraine. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:607. [PMID: 37367543 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates. While habitat loss poses the greatest threat to amphibians, a spreading fungal disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Longcore, Pessier & D.K. Nichols 1999 (Bd) is seriously affecting an increasing number of species. Although Bd is widely prevalent, there are identifiable heterogeneities in the pathogen's distribution that are linked to environmental parameters. Our objective was to identify conditions that affect the geographic distribution of this pathogen using species distribution models (SDMs) with a special focus on Eastern Europe. SDMs can help identify hotspots for future outbreaks of Bd but perhaps more importantly identify locations that may be environmental refuges ("coldspots") from infection. In general, climate is considered a major factor driving amphibian disease dynamics, but temperature in particular has received increased attention. Here, 42 environmental raster layers containing data on climate, soil, and human impact were used. The mean annual temperature range (or 'continentality') was found to have the strongest constraint on the geographic distribution of this pathogen. The modeling allowed to distinguish presumable locations that may be environmental refuges from infection and set up a framework to guide future search (sampling) of chytridiomycosis in Eastern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volodymyr Tytar
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Oksana Nekrasova
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Mihails Pupins
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Arturs Skute
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Muza Kirjušina
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Evita Gravele
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Ligita Mezaraupe
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Oleksii Marushchak
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Andris Čeirāns
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, LV5400 Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Iryna Kozynenko
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
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Lambertini C, Ernetti JR, Missassi AFR, Jorge RF, da Silva Leite D, Lima AP, Toledo LF. Chytrid fungus in amphibians from the lowland Brazilian Amazon. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2022; 152:115-125. [PMID: 36519683 DOI: 10.3354/dao03709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are one of the main threats to biodiversity. The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is associated with several amphibian losses around the globe, and environmental conditions may dictate the success of pathogen spread. The Brazilian Amazon has been considered climatically unsuitable for chytrid fungus, but additional information on Bd dynamics in this ecoregion is still lacking. We sampled 462 amphibians (449 anurans, 4 caudatans and 9 caecilians), representing 57 species from the Brazilian Amazon, and quantified Bd infections using qPCR. We tested whether abiotic variables predicted the risk of Bd infections, and tested for relationships between biotic variables and Bd. Finally, we experimentally tested the effects of Bd strains CLFT 156 and CLFT 102 (from the southern and northern Atlantic Forest, respectively) on Atelopus manauensis. We detected higher Bd prevalence than those previously reported for the Brazilian Amazon, and positive individuals in all 3 orders of amphibians sampled. Both biotic and abiotic predictors were related to prevalence, and no variable explained infection load. Moreover, we detected higher Bd prevalence in forested than open areas, while the host's reproductive biology was not a factor. We detected higher mortality in the experimental group infected with CLFT 156, probably because this strain was isolated from a region characterized by discrepant climatic conditions (latitudinally more distant) when compared with the host's sampling site in Amazon. The lowland Brazilian Amazon is still underexplored and future studies targeting all amphibian orders are essential to better understand Bd infection dynamics in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Lambertini
- Laboratório de História Natural de Anfíbios Brasileiros (LaHNAB), Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-862, Brazil
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Zumbado-Ulate H, Neam K, García-Rodríguez A, Ochoa-Ochoa L, Chaves G, Kolby JE, Granados-Martínez S, Hertz A, Bolaños F, Ariano-Sánchez D, Puschendorf R, Searle CL. Ecological correlates of extinction risk and persistence of direct-developing stream-dwelling frogs in Mesoamerica. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Granados-Martínez S, Zumbado-Ulate H, Searle CL, Oliveira BF, García-Rodríguez A. Niche Contraction of an Endangered Frog Driven by the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus. ECOHEALTH 2021; 18:134-144. [PMID: 34184170 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-021-01525-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Introduced pathogens can alter the geographic distribution of susceptible host species. For example, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen that has been linked to the global decline and extinction of numerous amphibian species during the last four decades. A growing number of studies have described the distribution of Bd and susceptible hosts across the globe; however, knowledge on how Bd may shape the climatic niche of susceptible species is still missing. We estimated the effect of Bd on the geographic distribution and niche dynamics of the critically endangered lowland robber frog (Craugastor ranoides) in Costa Rica. We found a reduction of 98% in the geographic range of this species by 1995, following the epizootic outbreaks of Bd that affected Costa Rica in the 1980 and early 1990s. We also quantified niche contraction and found that the species is currently restricted to dry and warm environments that have been considered unsuitable for Bd. Our results contribute to the understanding of how emerging pathogens shape the climatic niches and geographic distribution of susceptible species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Granados-Martínez
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, Montes de Oca, San Pedro, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica.
- Facultad de Microbiología, Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, 11501, Costa Rica.
| | - Héctor Zumbado-Ulate
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Catherine L Searle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Brunno F Oliveira
- Environmental Science and Policy Department, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, 59078-900, Brazil
| | - Adrián García-Rodríguez
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, Montes de Oca, San Pedro, San José, 11501-2060, Costa Rica
- Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, 59078-900, Brazil
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, México
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Zumbado‐Ulate H, García‐Rodríguez A, Searle CL. Species distribution models predict the geographic expansion of an enzootic amphibian pathogen. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Adrián García‐Rodríguez
- Departamento de Zoología Instituto de Biología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUNAM Ciudad de México México
- Museo de Zoología Escuela de Biología Universidad de Costa Rica San José Costa Rica
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D'Bastiani E, Teixeira CP, De La Torre GM, Dudczak AC, Dos Santos LE, Silva ALF, Oda FH, Mello-Patiu CA, Campião KM. How deadly sarcophagid fly larvae are for anurans? New interactions and review to Neotropical region. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1415-1422. [PMID: 32006228 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06613-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Myiasis is defined as the infestation of living or necrotic tissues of vertebrates by dipteran larvae. In amphibians, it can be caused by fly larvae belonging to families Calliphoridae, Chloropidae, Muscidae, and Sarcophagidae. In this study, we report new records and infestation intensity of myiasis in anurans from two localities of the Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil, and also present a list with myiasis caused by flesh fly Sarcophagidae species in anurans of the Neotropical region. For this, we surveyed anuran communities during two breeding seasons, examined for myiasis signs, and when positive collected the specimens. We found infested individuals of 13 anurans of seven species. Different Sarcophagidae larva morphotypes were collected, and two of them emerged as adult flies of Lepidodexia (Notochaeta) fumipennis and Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens, which were both found in the tree frog Bokermannohyla circumdata. We compiled 21 cases of myiasis in anurans in the Neotropical region from the literature reviewed. This data indicated that hosts of different lineages and modes of life can be affected and that death is often fast. The diversity of myiasis-causing flies in anurans in nature is probably a lot greater than expected, especially if we consider that the encounters are occasional, but at relatively high intensities, can cause rapid deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira D'Bastiani
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil.
| | - Cauê P Teixeira
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Gabriel M De La Torre
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Amanda C Dudczak
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Lorena E Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - André Luiz F Silva
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
| | - Fabrício H Oda
- Laboratório de Zoologia, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidade Regional do Cariri, Crato, Ceará, 63105-000, Brazil
| | - Cátia A Mello-Patiu
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Sistemática de Diptera, Departamento de Entomologia, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20940-040, Brazil
| | - Karla M Campião
- Laboratório de Interações Biológicas, Departamento de Zoologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, 81531-980, Brazil
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Widespread chytrid infection across frogs in the Peruvian Amazon suggests critical role for low elevation in pathogen spread and persistence. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222718. [PMID: 31618214 PMCID: PMC6795419 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases are becoming more frequent as climate changes wildlife communities at unprecedented rates, driving population declines and raising concerns for species conservation. One critical disease is the global pandemic of chytridiomycosis in frogs, which can be caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Although there is clear evidence for Bd-induced mortality across high-elevation frog communities, little attention is given to the role of lowlands in Bd’s persistence and spread because low elevations are assumed to be too warm to harbor significant levels of Bd. Here, we report widespread Bd infection across 80 frog species from three sites in the lowland Peruvian Amazon, an area with no documented Bd-related amphibian declines. Despite observing no clinical signs of infection in the field, we found that 24–46% of individuals were infected per site (up to ≈105,000 zoospore equivalents per frog) by three Bd strains from the global pandemic lineage (Bd-GPL). We also found collection site and seasonal effects to be only weak predictors of Bd prevalence and load, with lower elevation and drier habitats marginally decreasing both prevalence and load. We found no further effect of host phylogeny, ecotype, or body size. Our results showing high and widespread prevalence across a lowland tropical ecosystem contradict the expectations based on the global pattern of pathogenicity of Bd that is largely restricted to higher elevations and colder temperatures. These findings imply that the lowlands may play a critical role in the spread and persistence of Bd over time and space.
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Endemic Infection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Costa Rica: Implications for Amphibian Conservation at Regional and Species Level. DIVERSITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11080129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been associated with the severe declines and extinctions of amphibians in Costa Rica that primarily occurred during the 1980s and 1990s. However, the current impact of Bd infection on amphibian species in Costa Rica is unknown. We aimed to update the list of amphibian species in Costa Rica and evaluate the prevalence and infection intensity of Bd infection across the country to aid in the development of effective conservation strategies for amphibians. We reviewed taxonomic lists and included new species descriptions and records for a total of 215 amphibian species in Costa Rica. We also sampled for Bd at nine localities from 2015–2018 and combined these data with additional Bd occurrence data from multiple studies conducted in amphibian communities across Costa Rica from 2005–2018. With this combined dataset, we found that Bd was common (overall infection rate of 23%) across regions and elevations, but infection intensity was below theoretical thresholds associated with mortality. Bd was also more prevalent in Caribbean lowlands and in terrestrial amphibians with an aquatic larval stage; meanwhile, infection load was the highest in direct-developing species (forest and stream-dwellers). Our findings can be used to prioritize regions and taxonomic groups for conservation strategies.
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