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Emerging infectious diseases of amphibians in Poland: distribution and environmental drivers

Gemma Palomar¹, Joanna Jakóbik, Jaime Bosch

¹Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

|November 4, 2021

Abstract:

Emerging infectious diseases are a threat to biodiversity and have taken a large toll on amphibian populations worldwide. The chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), and the iridovirus Ranavirus (Rv), are of concern as all have contributed to amphibian declines. In central and eastern Europe, their geographical and host distributions and main environmental drivers determining prevalence are poorly known. We screened over 1000 amphibians from natural and captive populations in Poland for the presence of Bd, Bsal and Rv. In wild amphibian populations, we found that Bd is widespread, present in 46 out of 115 sampled localities as well as 2 captive colonies, and relatively common with overall prevalence at 14.4% in 9 species. We found lower prevalence of Rv at 2.4%, present in 11 out of 92 sampling sites, with a taxonomic breadth of 8 different amphibian species. Bsal infection was not detected in any individuals. In natural populations, Pelophylax esculentus and Bombina variegata accounted for 75% of all Bd infections, suggesting a major role for these 2 species as pathogen reservoirs in Central European freshwater habitats. General linear models showed that climatic as well as landscape features are associated with Bd infection in Poland. We found that higher average annual temperature constrains Bd infection, while landscapes with numerous water bodies or artificial elements (a surrogate for urbanization) increase the chances of infection. Our results show that a combination of climatic and landscape variables may drive regional and local pathogen emergence.

Insights

Emerging infectious diseases threaten amphibians globally. In Poland, chytrid fungus (Bd) is widespread, with prevalence linked to temperature, water bodies, and urbanization, impacting key amphibian species.

Area of Science:

Ecology
Pathogen Biology
Conservation Science

Background:

Emerging infectious diseases pose a significant threat to amphibian biodiversity worldwide.
Chytrid fungi (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, B. salamandrivorans) and Ranavirus are major drivers of amphibian declines.
Knowledge gaps exist regarding pathogen distribution and environmental drivers in Central and Eastern Europe.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the prevalence and distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), and Ranavirus (Rv) in Polish amphibians.
To identify key environmental factors influencing pathogen prevalence in natural and captive populations.
To assess the role of specific amphibian species as potential pathogen reservoirs.

Main Methods:

Screening of over 1000 amphibians from natural and captive populations in Poland.
Detection of Bd, Bsal, and Rv using molecular diagnostic methods.
Statistical analysis using general linear models to correlate pathogen presence with climatic and landscape variables.

Main Results:

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) was widespread, detected in 14.4% of wild amphibians across 46 localities and 2 captive colonies.
Ranavirus (Rv) showed lower prevalence (2.4%) across 11 sampling sites, affecting 8 amphibian species.
Bsal infection was not detected in any sampled individuals.
Pelophylax esculentus and Bombina variegata were identified as significant reservoirs for Bd, accounting for 75% of infections.
Higher average annual temperatures were associated with lower Bd prevalence, while increased water bodies and artificial elements (urbanization) correlated with higher infection rates.

Conclusions:

Bd is a prevalent pathogen in Polish amphibians, with its distribution significantly influenced by climatic and landscape factors.
Specific amphibian species play a crucial role in maintaining Bd persistence in freshwater habitats.
Understanding these environmental drivers is critical for predicting and mitigating amphibian disease emergence.

Read full analysis

Keywords:

Batrachochytrium Central Europe Chytrid fungus Pathogens Ranavirus

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