Treating Frog Fungus With Bacteria | Dr. Lucy Spelman
source: http://www.drlucyspelman.com/dr-lucy/2008/jun/22/treating-frog-fungus-with-bacteria
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About half of the world's frog and amphibian species are threatened with extinction. In an effort to raise public awareness, 2008 has been named the year of the frog by Amphibian Ark. Various zoos, aquariums, and conservation organizations have joined the effort, along with several celebrity conservation biologists, including Sir David Attenborough, Jeff Corwin, and Jean-Michel Cousteau. Their goal is to engage the public, create partnerships, and generate financial support for projects aimed at better understanding and conservation of amphibians.
Frogs, in particular, suffer from multiple problems, including habitat loss, water pollution, climate change, and chytridiomycosis, a skin infection caused by a fungus. Scientists discovered this organism on frog skin about ten years ago. The first studies found the infection only in parts of the U.S. and Australia. Since then, the disease has been diagnosed in frogs worldwide and implicated in the decline or extinction, dating back to the mid-70s, of several frog species. Initially, the fungus was thought to be a secondary invader, a problem only in frogs whose health was compromised by other variables, such as environmental degradation and global warming.
Scientists have recently changed their thinking. The species of frogs declining most rapidly--those living at higher elevations in the tropics of South America--have not experienced rapid changes in their environment, nor have toxins or pollutants been identified that would explain the pattern. Chytrid infection has been found in nearly every case of frog decline, however. The fungus has been found in South African frogs (where, however, it does not cause disease). Humans have apparently caused its spread around the world, primarily via the movement of wildlife, but potentially also on our shoes or in contaminated water, with devastating effects.
Frogs, in particular, suffer from multiple problems, including habitat loss, water pollution, climate change, and chytridiomycosis, a skin infection caused by a fungus. Scientists discovered this organism on frog skin about ten years ago. The first studies found the infection only in parts of the U.S. and Australia. Since then, the disease has been diagnosed in frogs worldwide and implicated in the decline or extinction, dating back to the mid-70s, of several frog species. Initially, the fungus was thought to be a secondary invader, a problem only in frogs whose health was compromised by other variables, such as environmental degradation and global warming.
Scientists have recently changed their thinking. The species of frogs declining most rapidly--those living at higher elevations in the tropics of South America--have not experienced rapid changes in their environment, nor have toxins or pollutants been identified that would explain the pattern. Chytrid infection has been found in nearly every case of frog decline, however. The fungus has been found in South African frogs (where, however, it does not cause disease). Humans have apparently caused its spread around the world, primarily via the movement of wildlife, but potentially also on our shoes or in contaminated water, with devastating effects.
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