Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis prevalence in northern red-legged frogs (Rana aurora)--10 years later

Thesis (M.S.)--Humboldt State University, Biology, 2012Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an emerging pathogenic fungus of amphibians that has caused species decline and extinction worldwide. A decade ago, Nieto (2004) found that Bd existed in larval Rana aurora at a low (6.4%) overall prevalence throughout the coast of northern California. The primary goal of this research was to assess the current prevalence of Bd in the same populations of R. aurora. Both larvae and adults were sampled to better elucidate the dynamics of Bd infection in both life stages. All larval and adult R. aurora were non-lethally swabbed for qPCR analysis. Additionally, the same larval R. aurora were also processed for histological examination. Prevalence of Bd was consistently low, with no significant differences between studies or life stages. As in Nieto???s (2004) study, oral anomalies remained a significant predictor of Bd infection in larval R. aurora. For Bd identification, molecular and microscopic diagnoses yielded nearly identical results. My results suggest that Bd may be endemic in these R. aurora populations