wildlife and zoo assay data sheet
Chytrid fungus
Test code: F0005
- Qualitative detection of Batrachochytrium
dendrobatidis
by real time PCR
In the past, chytrid fungi were considered
to be predominantly free-living saprophytes, with a few
species capable of infecting only invertebrates and vascular
plants. A new species, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis,
was discovered in 1999 which was shown to be capable of
infecting amphibians and causing an often-fatal disease known
as chytridiomycosis. Subsequent studies further showed that
B. dendrobatidis
was associated with amphibian population declines on every
amphibian-inhabited continent.
Once amphibians are infected with this
fungus, it can spread quickly through watercourses and
animal-to-animal contact, and possibly by other mechanisms not
yet fully understood. In Central America, where the spread of
the fungus has been extensively studied, its rate of
progression has been calculated at 28-100 km/yr.
Captive amphibians are not entirely safe
from chytrid fungus. Mortality in private and zoo collections
has been reported in several countries. Various treatment
regimes have been used with varying degrees of success,
including antifungal drugs and exposure to high temperatures.
Detection of this fungus can currently only
be reliably performed by molecular techniques such as PCR (Annis
et al., 2004). Repeat PCR testing is recommended for
confirmation of a fungus-free environment for amphibians.
Utilities:
- Confirm the disease causing agent
- Shorten the time required to confirm a
clinical diagnosis of chytrid fungus
infection
- Ensure that amphibian colonies are free
of chytrid fungus
- Early prevention of spread of this fungus
among the colony
- Environmental monitoring for this fungus
- Minimize human exposure to this fungus
- Safety monitoring of biological products
that derive from amphibians
References:
Annis, S.L., Dastoor, F., Ziel, H., Daszak, P., Longcore,
J.E. (2004). A DNA-based assay to identify
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians. Journal of
Wildlife Diseases 40: 420-428.
Specimen requirement: 1 ml
water, fungal culture or tissue, or swab from affected area,
shipped overnight at room temperature; or frozen tissue
shipped frozen.
For specimen types other than those listed
here, please call to confirm specimen acceptability and
shipping instructions.
For all specimen types, if there will be a
delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate
specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more
stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen
specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit.
See shipping instructions for
more information.
Turnaround time: 2 business
days
Methodology: Real time
polymerase chain reaction
Normal range: Nondetected