Disentangling host, pathogen, and environmental determinants of a recently emerged wildlife disease: lessons from the first 15 years of amphibian chytridiomycosis research. Issue 18 (2nd September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: James, Timothy Y.; Toledo, L. Felipe; Rödder, Dennis; da Silva Leite, Domingos; Belasen, Anat M.; Betancourt‐Román, Clarisse M.; Jenkinson, Thomas S.; Soto‐Azat, Claudio; Lambertini, Carolina; Longo, Ana V.; Ruggeri, Joice; Collins, James P.; Burrowes, Patricia A.; Lips, Karen R.; Zamudio, Kelly R.; Longcore, Joyce E.
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 5:Issue 18(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 4079
• Page End: 4097
• Publication Date: 2015-09-02
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1672
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ece31672-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The amphibian fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which affects species across all continents, recently emerged as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. Yet, many aspects of the basic biology and epidemiology of the pathogen, <italic>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</italic> (<italic>Bd</italic>), are still unknown, such as when and from where did <italic>Bd</italic> emerge and what is its true ecological niche? Here, we review the ecology and evolution of <italic>Bd</italic> in the Americas and highlight controversies that make this disease so enigmatic. We explore factors associated with variance in severity of epizootics focusing on the disease triangle of host susceptibility, pathogen virulence, and environment. Reevaluating the causes of the panzootic is timely given the wealth of data on <italic>Bd</italic> prevalence across hosts and communities and the recent discoveries suggesting co‐evolutionary potential of hosts and <italic>Bd</italic>. We generate a new species distribution model for <italic>Bd</italic> in the Americas based on over 30, 000 records and suggest a novel future research agenda. Instead of focusing on pathogen "hot spots, " we need to identify pathogen "cold spots" so that we can better understand what limits the pathogen's distribution. Finally, we introduce the concept of "the Ghost of Epizootics Past" to discuss expected patterns in postepizootic host communities.</p> </abstract>