Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis gen. et sp. nov., a chytrid pathogenic to amphibians
1999/03/01 by Joyce E. Longcore, Allan P. Pessier, Donald K. Nichols · 389 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · Immunology and Microbiology · #Amphibian #Amphibian and Reptile Biology #Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities #Ascomycota #Biology #Botany #Chytridiomycosis #Chytridiomycota #Ecology #Fungus #Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies #Sporangium #Spore #Ultrastructure #Zoology #Zoospore
paper · doi:10.1080/00275514.1999.12061011
published in Mycologia 91(2), 219-227 (Taylor & Francis)
openalex publication_date 1999/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Abstract
Captive and wild frogs from North and Central America and Australia recently have died with epidermal infections by chytridiomycete fungi. We isolated a chytridiomycete into pure culture from a captive, blue poison dart frog that died at the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. Using this isolate, we photographed developmental stages on nutrient agar, examined zoospores with transmission electron microscopy, and inoculated test frogs. This inoperculate chytrid develops either monocentrically or colonially and has thread-like rhizoids that arise from single or multiple areas on the developing zoo-sporangium. The taxonomically important features of the kinetosomal region of the zoospore indicate that this chytrid is a member of the Chytridiales but differs from other chytrids studied with transmission electron microscopy. Its microtubule root, which begins at kinetosome triplets 9–1 and extends parallel to the kinetosome into the aggregation of ribosomes, is distinctive. Histologic examination of test frogs revealed that the pure culture infected the skin of test frogs, whereas the skin of control frogs remained free of infection. The fungus is described as Batrachochytrium, dendrobatidis gen. et sp. nov.
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