First Record of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Pleurodema somuncurense, a Critically Endangered Species from Argentina

Abstract

The presence of Bd zoosporangia in skin samples of the dead individual coming from the eastern warm branch, which reach temperatures of up to 26°C, suggests the occurrence of a Bd strain adapted to higher temperatures (Bd does not grow well above 25°C: Piotrowsky et al. 2004). Since the two pairs of branches differ by almost 4°C, and knowing that temperature may influences patterns of Bd infection, future field-studies should assess the prevalence of the Bd infection in subpopulations of Valcheta Frog inhabiting at different environmental conditions along the stream.