Amphibian Chytridiomycosis: A threat to global biodiversity

Document Type : Primary Research paper

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Abstract

Amphibians from all biogeographic regions of the world are faced with a significant decrease in their populations. Although the most common causes of this decline are undoubtedly the alteration and destruction of habitat, the influence of emerging diseases on species decline and extinction has also been shown in recent years. Such is the case of chytridiomycosis, an amphibian skin disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which has drawn scientific attention as recent studies have attributed the extinction of more than 30 species in Latin America to its high pathogenicity and global distribution. In Mexico, the disease has already been identified in the Valley of Mexico and several states, such as Chiapas, Estado de Mexico, Puebla, Oaxaca, Michoacan, Morelos, Sonora.. Yet further studies are necessary to increase our understanding of the behavior of chytridiomycosis in the wild and captive populations. As such, this review paper aims to advance our knowledge of this pathogen, its distribution and its worldwide and local control strategies.

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Int. J. of Aquatic Science
Volume 5, Issue 1
January 2014
Pages 94-109

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