More old news. The Chytrid (Bd) epidemic began in the mid-80's and has decimated frogs populations worldwide. We have chytrid here and, yes, it has been documented in many species other than frogs. It seems to be practically ubiquitous among Eurycea salamander populations but is asymptomatic. That is probably due to the fact that chytrid is primarily a skin infection that starts with keratinized tissues (claws, fingernails). That is bad news for most frogs since they have tadpoles with keratinized mouthparts. Their little mouths rot off! It gets worse when they undergo metamorphosis since there is a wholesale turnover from the larval immune system to the adult immune system. This presents metamorphs with a greater risk of infection. Our Eurycea salamanders seem to dodge the bullet becuase they don't have keratinized mouthparts or toe tips and don't undergo metamorphosis. All bets are off, however when an individual is highly stressed (i.e. due to crappy water quality).
This is just another reason why everyone should practice universal field hygiene (wash your gear!). Andrew G. Gluesenkamp, Ph.D. 700 Billie Brooks Drive Driftwood, Texas 78619 (512) 799-1095 a...@gluesenkamp.com --- On Wed, 5/30/12, Bob Cowell <bcow...@satx.rr.com> wrote: From: Bob Cowell <bcow...@satx.rr.com> Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Where have these folks been for the last five years? To: "Louise Power" <power_lou...@hotmail.com>, "Texas Cavers" <texascavers@texascavers.com> List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2012, 9:05 AM I was watching nat.geo or animal planet the other night concerning several species of frogs that in at least one species was going exstinct. All of them from a type of fungus. They were concerned about it jumping species. Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide ----- Reply message ----- From: "Louise Power" <power_lou...@hotmail.com> List-Post: texascavers@texascavers.com Date: Tue, May 29, 2012 4:00 pm Subject: [Texascavers] Where have these folks been for the last five years? To: "Texas Cavers" <texascavers@texascavers.com> http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/29/11939375-disease-wiping-out-bats-hits-new-species-spreads-west?lite
