Midges not only sucks, but may carry lethal pathogens to wild amphibians

Author(s)

Toledo, Luis Felipe ^[1] ; Ruggeri, Joice ^[1] ; Leite Ferraz de Campos, Leonardo ^[2] ; Martins, Marcio ^[3] ; Neckel-Oliveira, Selvino ^[2] ; Breviglieri, Crasso Paulo Bosco ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, Lab Hist Nat Anfibios Brasileiros LaHNAB, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Santa Catarina, Ctr Ciencias Biol, Dept Ecol & Zool, Programa Posgrad Ecol, Florianopolis, SC - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Ecol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Biotropica; v. 53, n. 3 MAR 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The chytrid fungus (Bd) is one of the main causes of recent amphibian population declines and extinctions. However, one possible disease transmission pathway remained unexplored: the insect-borne transport between hosts. We found Bd DNA on specialized blood-sucking midges, which could indicate the transport of alive zoospores between amphibian hosts, in this case acting as Bd carriers in the wild. in Portuguese is available with online material. (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
• FAPESP's process: 17/01917-6 - Interaction between the chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and the Ranavirus in anuran assemblages from the Southern Atlantic forest
• Grantee: Joice Ruggeri Gomes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral