The chytrid fungus and ranavirus in species of the genus Melanophryniscus (Anura: Bufonidae)

• Grant number: 20/00099-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2020
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Luis Felipe de Toledo Ramos Pereira
• Grantee: Mariana Retuci Pontes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 16/25358-3 - The chytrid fungus: from its origins to its consequences, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/09743-2 - In vitro models of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis strains infections from Brazil, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases are amongst the main threats to the world's biodiversity, with the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and the virus Ranavirus (Rv) being considered as major factors to amphibian declines. Both pathogens are transmitted through water or direct contact with infected individuals, casing their dispersion to be extremely effective. Although there are reports of Bd and Rv coinfection on native populations in the Americas and Europe, in Brazil there are no studies of such interaction, nor the presence of this deadly virus in endangered amphibian species. The species of the genus Melanophryniscus (Anura: Bufonidae) occur mostly in Southern South America, where both the fungus and the virus have been detected. Knowing that environmental factors affect the dynamics of chytridiomycosis and ranavirus in nature, this study aims to investigate the presence and interaction of Rv and Bd in anurans of the genus Melanophryniscus in the Southern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Therefore, through molecular techniques for pathogen detection, our goal is to clarify the patterns of Bd and Rv infection in wild Melanophryniscus, using environmental variables as predictors of infections by one or both pathogens. Our results will benefit management plans for the conservation of all species, but especially our endangered species as they are already submitted to several other threats. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FORTI, LUCAS RODRIGUEZ; PONTES, MARIANA RETUCI; AUGUSTO-ALVES, GUILHERME; MARTINS, ALLANA; HEPP, FABIO; SZABO, JUDIT K.. Data collected by citizen scientists reveal the role of climate and phylogeny on the frequency of shelter types used by frogs across the Americas. ZOOLOGY, v. 155, p. 11-pg., 2022-12-01. (19/03170-0, 20/00099-0)

RUGGERI, J.; PONTES, M. R.; RIBEIRO, L. P.; GENDREAU, K. L.; SOUSA, R. L. M.; TOLEDO, L. F.. Predominant prevalence of Ranavirus in southern Brazil, a region with widespread occurrence of the amphibian chytrid. ANIMAL CONSERVATION, v. N/A, p. 12-pg., 2023-10-05. (18/23622-0, 16/25358-3, 17/01917-6, 20/00099-0, 13/50741-7, 19/18335-5)

PRADO, JOELMA S.; ERNETTI, JULIA R.; PONTES, MARIANA RETUCI; FELIPE TOLEDO, L.. Chytrid in the clouds: an alternative passive transport of a lethal pathogen for amphibians. Hydrobiologia, v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2023-04-16. (16/25358-3, 19/18335-5, 20/02991-8, 20/00099-0)

ERNETTI, JULIA R.; BOSCHETTI, JOANA P.; DELAZERI, FRANCIELI; DE BASTIANI, VELUMA I. M.; PONTES, MARIANA R.; RIBEIRO, LUISA P.; LINGNAU, RODRIGO; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE; LUCAS, ELAINE M.. High temporal and individual variation in the prevalence and intensity of chytrid infection in the southernmost Leaf Frog of the genusPithecopus(Anura, Phyllomedusidae). Hydrobiologia, v. 847, n. 16, JUL 2020. (16/25358-3, 20/00099-0, 18/23622-0)

FORTI, LUCAS RODRIGUEZ; PONTES, MARIANA RETUCI; ALCANTARA, EDNA PAULINO; MORAIS, DRAUSIO HONORIO; DA SILVA, REINALDO JOSE; DODONOV, PAVEL; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. Torrent frogs have fewer macroparasites but higher rates of chytrid infection in landscapes with smaller forest cover. ECOSPHERE, v. 11, n. 6, JUN 2020. (16/25358-3, 20/00099-0, 13/21519-4, 14/23388-7)

PONTES, MARIANA RETUCI; BARDIER, CECILIA; MEDINA, DANIEL; PEREIRA, GISELA; LAMBERTINI, CAROLINA; TOLEDO, LUIS FELIPE. Seasonal variation of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in a threatened anuran species from Uruguay. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS, v. 145, p. 79-88, 2021. (18/08650-8, 20/00099-0, 16/25358-3)