2,321
Views
264
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Physiology of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a chytrid pathogen of amphibians

, &
Pages 9-15 | Accepted 31 Mar 2003, Published online: 30 Jan 2017
 

Abstract

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a pathogen of amphibians that has been implicated in severe population declines on several continents. We investigated the zoospore activity, physiology and protease production of B. dendrobatidis to help understand the epidemiology of this pathogen. More than 95% of zoospores stopped moving within 24 h and swam less than 2 cm before encysting. Isolates of B. dendrobatidis grew and reproduced at temperatures of 4–25 C and at pH 4–8. Growth was maximal at 17–25 C and at pH 6–7. Exposure of cultures to 30 C for 8 d killed 50% of the replicates. B. dendrobatidis cultures grew on autoclaved snakeskin and 1% keratin agar, but they grew best in tryptone or peptonized milk and did not require additional sugars when grown in tryptone. B. dendrobatidis produced extracellular proteases that degraded casein and gelatin but had no measurable activity against keratin azure. The proteases were active against azocasein at temperatures of 6–37 C and in a pH range of 6–8, with the highest activity at temperatures of 23–30 C and at pH 8. The implications of these observations on disease transmission and development are discussed.

NSF Division of Biological Sciences supported this research as part of Integrated Research Challenges in Environmental Biology Grant IBN-9977063.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.