Seeley Kathryn E, D'Angelo Melanie, Gowins Caitlin, Greathouse Joe
1 College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1900 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA;
2 The Wilds, 14000 International Road, Cumberland, Ohio 43732, USA;
J Wildl Dis. 2016 Apr 28;52(2):391-4. doi: 10.7589/2015-02-052.
The eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) is a North American salamander species in decline throughout its range. Efforts to identify the causes of decline have included surveillance for the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), which has been associated with global amphibian population losses. We evaluated the prevalence of Bd in 42 hellbenders at four sites in West Virginia, US, from June to September 2013, using standard swab protocols and real-time PCR. Overall prevalence of Bd was 52% (22/42; 37.7-66.6%; 95% confidence interval). Prevalence was highest in individuals with body weight ≥695 g (χ(2)=7.2487, df=1, P=0.007), and was higher in montane sampling sites than lowland sites (t=-2.4599, df=44, P=0.02). While increased prevalence in montane sampling sites was expected, increased prevalence in larger hellbenders was unexpected and hypothesized to be associated with greater surface area for infection or prolonged periods of exposure in older, larger hellbenders. Wild hellbenders have not been reported to display clinical disease associated with Bd; however, prevalence in the population is important information for evaluating reservoir status and risk to other species, and as a baseline for investigation in the face of an outbreak of clinical disease.
东部隐鳃鲵（Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis）是一种北美蝾螈物种，其分布范围内数量正在减少。为确定数量减少的原因所做的努力包括监测壶菌（Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis，Bd），这种真菌与全球两栖动物数量减少有关。我们于2013年6月至9月在美国西弗吉尼亚州的四个地点，使用标准拭子检测方案和实时聚合酶链反应，对42只隐鳃鲵的Bd感染率进行了评估。Bd的总体感染率为52%（22/42；37.7 - 66.6%；95%置信区间）。体重≥695克的个体感染率最高（χ(2)=7.2487，自由度=1，P = 0.007），山区采样点的感染率高于低地采样点（t = -2.4599，自由度=44，P = 0.02）。虽然山区采样点感染率升高在意料之中，但较大隐鳃鲵感染率升高却出乎意料，据推测这与更大的感染表面积或年龄较大、体型较大的隐鳃鲵更长时间的暴露有关。尚未有野生隐鳃鲵出现与Bd相关临床疾病的报道；然而，该种群中的感染率对于评估宿主状态和对其他物种的风险而言是重要信息，并且可作为临床疾病爆发时调查的基线。
