The novel 'Candidatus Amphibiichlamydia ranarum' is highly prevalent in invasive exotic bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus). Issue 1 (6th June 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martel, An; Adriaensen, Connie; Sharifian‐Fard, Mojdeh; Vandewoestyne, Mado; Deforce, Dieter; Favoreel, Herman; Bergen, Karolien; Spitzen‐van der Sluijs, Annemarieke; Devisscher, Sander; Adriaens, Tim; Louette, Gerald; Baert, Kristof; Hyatt, Alex; Crameri, Sandra; Haesebrouck, Freddy; Pasmans, Frank
• Is Part Of: Environmental microbiology reports. Volume 5:Issue 1(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 105
• Page End: 108
• Publication Date: 2012-06-06
• Subjects: Microbial ecology -- Periodicals; Environmental Microbiology -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 579.17
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1758-2229.2012.00359.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-2229

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Knowledge concerning microbial infectious diseases in the current amphibian crisis is rudimentary and largely limited to ranavirosis and chytridiomycosis. The family <italic>Chlamydiaceae</italic> is gaining attention as a common cause of disease in amphibians and may harbour new and emerging amphibian pathogens. We identified a novel species of Chlamydiales (Candidatus <italic>Amphibiichlamydia ranarum</italic>) with a prevalence of 71% in exotic invasive bullfrog tadpoles (<italic>Lithobates catesbeianus</italic>) from an introduced population in the Netherlands. The sequence of a 1474 bp 16S rRNA gene fragment showed that the novel taxon forms a well‐defined clade with '<italic>Candidatus</italic> Amphibiichlamydia salamandrae' within the <italic>Chlamydiaceae</italic> family. Although none of the tadpoles examined showed signs of clinical disease, urgent evaluation of its pathogenic potential for native amphibian species is required.</p> </abstract>