spread and mixing of strains may reduce the risks of additional virulent strains appearing. 1.2 Susceptible species Most amphibians appear to be susceptible to infection. Many suffer severe morbidity and mortality laboratory conditions (Berger et al 2009), but not all innately susceptible species have declined in the wild. Life history of the host and the nature of the environment determine likelihood of exposure to and virulence of the pathogen as B. dendrobatidis is susceptible to desiccation and extreme cold and heat and amphibians are poikilothermic (Berger et al 1998, 2004, Piotrowski et al 2004, Murray et al 2011b). Therefore, only approximately half of Australia’s amphibian species have been shown or predicted to be infected (Murray et al 2010, Murray and Skerratt 2012). Infection with B. dendrobatidis has been recorded from 63 frog species in Australia. All infected species belong to the Hylidae, Limnodynastidae, and Myobatrachidae, except for the introduced cane toad of the family Bufonidae and one PCR positive individual of a species from the Microhylidae. A list of species reported to be infected are included in Murray et al (2010). Some of these species are resistant to mortality and serve as disease reservoirs and carriers. The number of species that occur in areas that are, or are predicted to be, severely impacted by the disease is further reduced to approximately a quarter of species (Murray et al 2011a,b). These are generally species that are associated with cool aquatic environments especially streams or ponds in habitats sheltered from climatic extremes such as wet forests. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is not zoonotic (Mendez et al 2008). 1.3 distribution The highly virulent lineage of B. dendrobatidis causing chytridiomycosis is widespread throughout the world although some countries remain free (Skerratt et al 2007, Berger et al 2009, global B. dendrobatidis website:
spread and mixing of strains may reduce the risks of additional virulent strains appearing. 1.2 Susceptible species Most amphibians appear to be susceptible to infection. Many suffer severe morbidity and mortality laboratory conditions (Berger et al 2009), but not all innately susceptible species have declined in the wild. Life history of the host and the nature of the environment determine likelihood of exposure to and virulence of the pathogen as B. dendrobatidis is susceptible to desiccation and extreme cold and heat and amphibians are poikilothermic (Berger et al 1998, 2004, Piotrowski et al 2004, Murray et al 2011b). Therefore, only approximately half of Australia’s amphibian species have been shown or predicted to be infected (Murray et al 2010, Murray and Skerratt 2012). Infection with B. dendrobatidis has been recorded from 63 frog species in Australia. All infected species belong to the Hylidae, Limnodynastidae, and Myobatrachidae, except for the introduced cane toad of the family Bufonidae and one PCR positive individual of a species from the Microhylidae. A list of species reported to be infected are included in Murray et al (2010). Some of these species are resistant to mortality and serve as disease reservoirs and carriers. The number of species that occur in areas that are, or are predicted to be, severely impacted by the disease is further reduced to approximately a quarter of species (Murray et al 2011a,b). These are generally species that are associated with cool aquatic environments especially streams or ponds in habitats sheltered from climatic extremes such as wet forests. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is not zoonotic (Mendez et al 2008). 1.3 distribution The highly virulent lineage of B. dendrobatidis causing chytridiomycosis is widespread throughout the world although some countries remain free (Skerratt et al 2007, Berger et al 2009, global B. dendrobatidis website:
chytrid-fungus-manual.docx