Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans not detected in U.S. survey of pet salamanders. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klocke, Blake; Becker, Matthew; Lewis, James; Fleischer, Robert; Muletz-Wolz, Carly; Rockwood, Larry; Aguirre, A.; Gratwicke, Brian
• Is Part Of: Scientific reports. Volume 7:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 5
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Natural history -- Research -- Periodicals; Biology -- Research -- Periodicals; Physical sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 502.85
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13500-2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-2322

Abstract

Abstract We engaged pet salamander owners in the United States to screen their animals for two amphibian chytrid fungal pathogensBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd ) andB .salamandrivorans (Bsal ). We provided pet owners with a sampling kit and instructional video to swab the skin of their animals. We received 639 salamander samples from 65 species by mail, and tested them forBd andBsal using qPCR. We detectedBd on 1.3% of salamanders (95% CI 0.0053–0.0267) and did not detectBsal (95% CI 0.0000–0.0071). IfBsal is present in the U.S. population of pet salamanders, it occurs at a very low prevalence. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed 201 species of salamanders as "injurious wildlife" under the Lacey Act (18 U.S.C. § 42) on January 28, 2016, a precautionary action to prevent the introduction ofBsal to the U.S. through the importation of salamanders. This action reduced the number of salamanders imported to the U.S. from 2015 to 2016 by 98.4%. Our results indicate that continued precautions should be taken to prevent the introduction and establishment ofBsal in the U.S., which is a hotspot of salamander biodiversity.