Authors
Cynthia Carey, Judsen E Bruzgul, Lauren J Livo, Margie L Walling, Kristin A Kuehl, Brenner F Dixon, Allan P Pessier, Ross A Alford, Kevin B Rogers
Publication date
2006/3
Journal
EcoHealth
Volume
3
Pages
5-21
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Description
One of the major causes of worldwide amphibian declines is a skin infection caused by a pathogenic chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis). This study documents the interactions between this pathogen and a susceptible amphibian host, the boreal toad (Bufo boreas). The amount of time following exposure until death is influenced by the dosage of infectious zoospores, duration of exposure, and body size of the toad. The significant relation between dosage and the number of days survived (dose-response curve) supports the hypothesis that the degree of infection must reach a particular threshold of about 107–108 zoosporangia before death results. Variation in air temperature between 12°C and 23°C had no significant effect on survival time. The infection can be transmitted from infected to healthy animals by contact with water containing zoospores; no physical contact between animals is …
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