Chytrid!!!!!!????????

[tgampper]

Hi:

Many scientists studying chytrid say there is an "out of Africa" connection. The disase was first discovered around 1930 in South Arfica among the common platanna (Xenopus laevis). These frogs are carriers of chytrid. Since this species is used in and pregnancy testing, labs all over the world dumped their frogs in the local ponds and streams, one reason why this fungual disease spread so quickly around the wgeneticsorld.

Here is an additional report:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol10n...fs/03-0804.pdf

As Kurt mentioned, the disease could be killed by warm temperatures, I understand that the waxy monkey frogs of central and south America may have a natural defense against chytrid since they secrete a "sun screen" that protects their skin from dessication when exposed to the hot sun.

Host species and localities of chytridiomycosis in Africa

BOTSWANA
Host species Locality Date Reference
Pipidae
Xenopus laevis Kanye Youth Centre Apr-69 Weldon 2005
Xenopus petersii Southern Botswana Apr-65 Weldon 2005

GHANA
Host species Locality Date Reference
Pipidae
Xenopus tropicalis Ghana 2003 Morehouse et al. 2003

KENYA
Host species Locality Date Reference
Ranidae
Ptychadena anchietae Nairobi 2000 Berger & Speare 2000

LESOTHO
Host species Locality Date Reference
Ranidae
Afrana dracomontana near Katsi Dam Dec-04 Weldon 2005
Amietia vertebralis Makheleng River Sep-00 Weldon 2005
Matsoku River Sep-00 Weldon 2005
Redi river Sep-00 Weldon 2005
Sani Tributary Oct-00 Weldon 2005
near Katsi Dam Dec-04 Weldon 2005

SOUTH AFRICA
Host species Locality Date Reference
Bufonidae
Bufo robinsoni Northern Cape, Springbok Aug-04 Weldon 2005
Heleophrynidae
Heleophryne purcelli Western Cape, Grootwinterhoek Sep-98 Weldon 2005
Heleophryne regis Western Cape, Oudtshoorn Nov-81 Weldon 2005
Hyperoliidae
Kassina senegalensis Eastern Cape, Kenton on Sea Oct-04 Weldon 2005
Ranidae
Afrana dracomontana Free State, Meiringskloof Dec-04 Weldon 2005
Afrana fuscigula Northern Cape, Gharries Jun-96 Weldon 2005
Afrana fuscigula Eastern Cape, Port Elizabeth Oct-04 Weldon 2005
Afrana fuscigula Eastern Cape, Stutterheim Sep-02 Lane et al. 2003
Afrana fuscigula Northern Cape, Kammieskroon May-04 Weldon 2005
Afrana fuscigula Northern Cape, Kammieskroon Aug-04 Weldon 2005
Afrana fuscigula Northern Cape, Kammiesberg Aug-04 Weldon 2005
Afrana fuscigula Northern Cape, Springbok Aug-04 Weldon 2005
Afrana fuscigula Northern Cape, Goegap NR Aug-04 Weldon 2005
Afrana angolensis Limpopo Province, Bela-Bela Oct-04 Weldon 2005
Cacosternum boettgeri Eastern Cape, Kenton on Sea Oct-04 Weldon 2005
Strongylopus fasciatus Eastern Cape, Kenton on Sea Oct-04 Weldon 2005
Tomopterna cryptotis Limpopo Province, Bela-Bela Oct-04 Weldon 2005
Tomopterna natalensis Limpopo Province, Bela-Bela Oct-04 Weldon 2005
Pipidae
Xenopus gilli Western Cape 1943 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus gilli Western Cape, Zeekoeivlei Jun-76 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Western Cape, Zeekoeivlei Jun-38 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Eastern Cape, Moordenaarshoek Dec-72 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Free State, Harrismith Sep-72 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis KwaZulu-Natal Dec-73 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Free State, Rosendal Feb-74 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Western Cape, Touw River Aug-74 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Western Cape, Phillipi 1982 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis KwaZulu-Natal, Sudwana Bay Jan-85 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Free State, Florisbad Oct-87 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Free State, Koffiefontein Sep-91 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Free State, Sannaspos Sep-91 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis KwaZulu-Natal, Mooi River Dec-95 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Free State, Kommissiepoort Nov-96 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Northern Cape Sep-96 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Northern Cape, Windsorton Road Nov-98 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Western Cape, Stellenbosch Sep-01 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Western Cape, Klapmuts Sep-01 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus laevis Western Cape, Strand Feb-02 Weldon 2005
Xenopus laevis Western Cape, Wellington Feb-02 Weldon 2005
Xenopus laevis Western Cape, Botrivier Feb-02 Weldon 2005
Xenopus laevis Northern Cape, Kammieskroon Aug-04 Weldon 2005

SWAZILAND
Host species Locality Date Reference
Pipidae
Xenopus meulleri Swaziland Feb-91 Weldon et al. 2004
Xenopus meulleri Swaziland Feb-98 Weldon et al. 2004

TANZANIA
Host species Locality Date Reference
Bufonidae
Nectophrynoides asperginis Kihansi Gorge July-03 Weldon & Du Preez 2004
Ranidae
Arthroleptidis yakusisni Udagaji Gorge Nov-03 Weldon & Du Preez 2004
Ptychadena anchietae Kihansi Gorge Nov-03 Weldon & Du Preez 2004

[JSG]

Terry,
Awesome! Great! Thanks. In other words no Dendrobates or Waxy Monkey Frogs are carriers. I'm sure this info will be very useful! Thanks again!

[clownonfire]

Actually, one of the great breeders in the hobby (FrogFarm's Aaron) is closing his doors as chytrid is getting closer to his house, and keeping it away from his frogs seems like a monumental effort from where he lives right now. Here's the thread on DB: http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/gen...ng-spring.html

Eric

[JSG]

Thanks Eric, yip, it is terrible to think that this fungus is closing down a man's bread and butter!

[Logqan]

Chytrid is indeed a scary issue and poor husbandry can lead to some very bad situations. When I do fieldwork I am purposely putting myself into the arms of chytrid and sites where it is very prevalent. I have to make sure I scrub myself clean and my gear as well to make sure I don't hurt my poor amphibians at home. Also about the issue of heat intolerance in chytrid, it is nice that it is easy killed this way sadly many of our beloved amphibians also can't take the heat. STL zoo had their hellbender collection get some infection and through slowly raising all the tank temps over a series of days they were able to kill the chytrid while allowing the hellbenders to slowly adapt to the change. Once the temps came back down the chytrid was gone and the hellbenders were fine. Also on a field note we see a lower rate to almost a no cases of infection in those amphibians who don't become active until warmer temps. Mostly hylids here. This isn't something that is a 100% fact but the evidence seems to be leaning that way.