Survey of Turkey's endemic amphibians for chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

Erismis U. C., Konuk M., Yoldas T., Agyar P., Yumuk D., Korean S. E.

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, vol.111, no.2, pp.153-157, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 111 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.3354/dao02742
  • Journal Name: Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.153-157
  • Keywords: Bd, Chytridiomycosis, Endemic frogs, QPCR
  • Uşak University Affiliated: No

Abstract

We report a new survey for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in Turkey, We swabbed 228 individuals of 7 amphibian species (from 5 families) living in 2 locations (26-August National Park and the Turkish Lakes District) in the southwestern Anatolian region. The infection intensity of all the samples was determined using quantitative PCR. All 4 amphibian breeding sites and 4 amphibian species in 26-August National Park were infected by Bd, with the prevalence at each site ranging from 8 to 29%. Only 1 species was sampled from Beysehir Lake near the conservation area Beysehir Natural Park, but these samples were notable for their high detection rates (prevalence of 32.11%). This study reports the first records of Bd infecting wild Pelophylax ridibundus, Hyla orientalis, Pseudepidalea variabilis, and endemic Beysehir frogs Pelophylax caralitanus.