CRES Scientist Fights Deadly Amphibian Fungus in Panama

July 28, 2006

Allan Pessier, DVM, a scientist for CRES, recently returned from Panama, where his team tested innovative, state-of-the-art mobile equipment designed to quickly detect, in situ, the deadly chytrid fungus that is decimating amphibians around the world.

The chytrid fungus has been affecting amphibians for several years, but recently has spread out of control in several areas of the globe. In California, the rare mountain yellow-legged frogs (pictured above) have been affected with a severe decline in their populations due to the fungus, which attacks amphibian's skin. Amphibian's skin is important for body functions such as water absorption, and if the fungus affects too much of the skin, the frogs will die.

Dr. Pessier traveled to Panama to field test the equipment for the first time with an inter-institution team that included the Zoological Society of San Diego, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta Botanical Garden, and was coordinated by the Houston Zoo, among other institutions. The project is also supported by El Nispero Zoo in El Valle, Panama and ANAM, the environmental government authority in Panama.

According to team member Joseph Mendelson, the curator of herpetology at Zoo Atlanta, "The objective of the team is to rescue amphibian populations that are currently crashing from the chytrid fungus."

This mobile equipment becomes a portable lab designed to identify chytrid at any site around the world, which allows scientists to get results in days, rather than waiting weeks or even months to get samples imported from another country to the U.S. The lab could greatly enhance the ability of scientists to find areas where the fungus is hitting amphibian populations hardest and therefore identify where the need for conservation is greatest.

"By getting an accurate diagnosis quickly, we are better able to treat sick frogs that will become part of captive backup colonies," said Dr. Pessier. "We can also anticipate if the die-off is likely to result in local species extirpations or extinctions."

Dr. Pessier will continue work regarding worldwide amphibian decline and the chytrid fungus, setting up a chytrid screening facility at CRES and continuing to work with field projects on this vital conservation issue.

More

Rapid Appearance of Fungus Devastates Frogs, Salamanders in Panama; Deadly Organism is likely Heading East
Pathology of Chytrid Fungi and Their Role in the Global Decline of Amphibians
Banking Genome Biomaterials of Terrestrial Vertebrates: Adding Amphibians to the Ark
Mountain Yellow-legged Frog Recovery Program