Population genetics of the frog-killing fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Global amphibian decline by chytridiomycosis is a major environmental disaster that has been attributed to either recent fungal spread or environmental change that promotes disease. Here, we present a population genetic comparison of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis isolates from an intensively studie...

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Published inProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 104; no. 34; pp. 13845 - 13850
Main Authors Morgan, Jess A.T, Vredenburg, Vance T, Rachowicz, Lara J, Knapp, Roland A, Stice, Mary J, Tunstall, Tate, Bingham, Rob E, Parker, John M, Longcore, Joyce E, Moritz, Craig, Briggs, Cheryl J, Taylor, John W
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States National Academy of Sciences 21.08.2007
National Acad Sciences
SeriesFrom the Cover
Subjects
Amphibians
Animals
Anura
Anura - microbiology
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Biological Sciences
California
Chytridiomycota - classification
Chytridiomycota - genetics
Chytridiomycota - isolation & purification
Comparative analysis
Female
Freshwater
Frogs
Fungi
Genetic loci
Genetics
Genetics, Population
Genotype
Genotype & phenotype
Genotypes
Geographic regions
Infectious diseases
Male
Molecular Sequence Data
Mycoses - microbiology
Mycoses - veterinary
Pathogens
Population genetics
Population structure
California
USA, California, Sierra Nevada Mts
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Summary:Global amphibian decline by chytridiomycosis is a major environmental disaster that has been attributed to either recent fungal spread or environmental change that promotes disease. Here, we present a population genetic comparison of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis isolates from an intensively studied region of frog decline, the Sierra Nevada of California. In support of a novel pathogen, we find low diversity, no amphibian-host specificity, little correlation between fungal genotype and geography, local frog extirpation by a single fungal genotype, and evidence of human-assisted fungus migration. In support of endemism, at a local scale, we find some diverse, recombining populations. Therefore neither epidemic spread nor endemism alone explains this particular amphibian decline. Recombination raises the possibility of resistant sporangia and a mechanism for rapid spread as well as persistence that could greatly complicate global control of the pathogen.
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Author contributions: J.A.T.M., C.M., C.J.B., and J.W.T. designed research; J.A.T.M., V.T.V., L.J.R., R.A.K., M.J.S., T.T., R.E.B., J.M.P., and J.E.L. performed research; J.M.P. provided veterinary advice; J.A.T.M., V.T.V., T.T., C.M., C.J.B., and J.W.T. analyzed data; and J.A.T.M. and J.W.T. wrote the paper.
Edited by David B. Wake, University of California, Berkeley, CA, and approved June 27, 2007
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.0701838104