Exchange of pathogens between bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus, Amphibia: Ranidae) of commercial breeding and wild amphibians

• Grant number: 16/15871-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Estevam Guilherme Lux Hoppe
• Grantee: Gabriela Pala
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

One of the causes of population decline of amphibians is the emergence and spread of emerging infectious diseases. Several pathogens can actively affect the populations of wild amphibians, such as viruses, fungi, bacteria and parasites. The bullfrog was introduced in Brazil in 1930 with the purpose of creation of these animals in breeding for the marketing of the meat, but were brought without prior health examination, also introducing its pathogens. Being an extremely tough animal, the bullfrog cannot manifest clinical signs resulting from diseases, but can carry and spread these microorganisms to other amphibians, especially if it happens the bullfrog escaping into the natural environment or even the invasion of confinement centers for wild amphibians, narrowing the contact between these animals. With this, the purpose of this study is to recognize the current pathogens between farmed and wild amphibians, and evaluate host-pathogen relationship in order to clarify the real impact of pathogens on hosts.