Differential liver histopathological responses to amphibian chytrid infection

Author(s):Show less -

Salla, Raquel F. ^{[1, 2]} ; Jones-Costa, Monica ^{[2, 3]} ; Abdalla, Fabio C. ^{[2, 4]} ; Vidal, Felipe A. P. ^[5] ; Boeing, Guilherme A. N. S. ^[4] ; Oliveira, Cristiane R. ^[6] ; Silva-Zacarin, Elaine C. M. ^[6] ; Franco-Belussi, Lilian ^[7] ; Rizzi-Possignolo, Gisele M. ^[8] ; Lambertini, Carolina ^[1] ; Toledo, Luis F. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Biol Inst, Lab Nat Hist Brazilian Amphibians, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Postgrad Program Biotechnol & Environm Monitoring, BR-18052780 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Biol, Lab Conservat Physiol, BR-18052780 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Biol, Lab Struct & Funct Biol, BR-18052780 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Masaryk Univ, Res Ctr Tox Cpds Environm RECETOX, Brno 60200 - Czech Republic

^[6] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Res Grp Ecotoxicol & Bee Conservat, BR-18052780 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[7] Univ Fed Mato Grosso do Sul, Biosci Inst, BR-79070900 Campo Grande, MS - Brazil

^[8] Univ Calif Santa Cruz, Dept Biol, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS; v. 142, p. 177-187, 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Amphibians have been facing a pandemic caused by the deadly fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Although studies have elucidated cutaneous and homeostatic disturbances, it is still unknown if the hepatic function can be affected or if hepatic effects differ among host species. Thus, we evaluated the effects of an experimental Bd infection on the liver (histopathology and the hepatosomatic index) of 2 anuran species (Xenopus laevis and Physalaemus albonotatus) with different susceptibilities to Bd infection and compared them to uninfected controls. Bd infection increased the melanomacrophage cell area and induced leukocyte infiltration in both species. The effects were more pronounced in the sensitive species, P. albonotatus, which showed severe reduction in glycogen stores and liver atrophy, due to energetic imbalance. Hepatocytes of P. albonotatus also showed ballooning degeneration (vacuolization), which could lead to cell death and liver failure. Our results provide evidence that although the sensitive species showed more severe effects, the tolerant species also had hepatic responses to the infection. These findings indicate that hepatic function can play an important role in detoxification and in immune responses to chytridiomycosis, and that it may be used as a new biomarker of health status in chytrid infections. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/25358-3 - The chytrid fungus: from its origins to its consequences
• Grantee: Luis Felipe de Toledo Ramos Pereira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants