Fungal infection affecting frogs' future

Fungal infection affecting frogs' future
An Australian green tree frog (Litoria caerulea). Credit: Brad Leue

Researchers have identified how a fungal skin infection is wiping out our native frog species at an alarming rate.

The University of Queensland-led team investigated the (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), which affects more than 500 species worldwide and is hampering frog conservation.

Ph.D. candidate Nicholas Wu from UQ's School of Biological Sciences said the unique qualities of frog skin is what was allowing the to have such a devastating impact.

"Frogs are particularly susceptible to the fungus because of their thin-permeable skin, through which they breathe, drink and exchange salts," he said.

"The fungus feeds on the skin and directly damages it, meaning they can't regulate themselves and die as a result."

The researchers extracted skin and from infected green tree frogs (Litoria caerulea) to determine how the fungus damages skin function.

"We found that a frog's natural response to fighting the infection was likely causing even more problems," Mr Wu said.

"Frogs shed their old skin in attempt to remove the fungus and this process – called sloughing – helps restore the skin function temporarily.

"But it also causes the skin to be thinner and more permeable, placing the frog at greater risk of infection."

Fungal infection affecting frogs' future
Credit: University of Queensland

The fungus is rapidly affecting amphibians, with the majority of chytrid-susceptible species already endangered, including the corroboree frog native to Australia's Southern Tablelands.

"There are around 200 species that are declining or extinct because of this fungus, making it the greatest disease-caused biodiversity loss in recorded history," Mr Wu said.

The researcher believes the new data will help inform , with benefits for frogs and for people.

"Identifying the cause of death of our precious species can drastically improve ongoing conservation efforts, and potentially fight other fungal disease outbreaks," he said.

"Frogs provide valuable ecosystem services, meaning that more frogs in an environment can indicate the health of an ecosystem.

"And for humans, frogs can help keep a check on nuisance insects like flies and mosquitoes, which can act as disease vectors.

"The properties of amphibian have untapped potential for biomedical and drug research, so there are very real and direct human impacts.

"Frogs are critical to our world's health – it's time we step up and protect these precious species."

The research is published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

More information: Nicholas C. Wu et al. Epidermal epidemic: unravelling the pathogenesis of chytridiomycosis, The Journal of Experimental Biology (2018). DOI: 10.1242/jeb.191817

Journal information: Journal of Experimental Biology

Citation: Fungal infection affecting frogs' future (2019, January 30) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2019-01-fungal-infection-affecting-frogs-future.html
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