Researchers in Manitoba are on the lookout for signs of a deadly fungal infection affecting frogs and salamanders. The disease, known as chytridiomycosis, is causing thickening skin, breathing difficulties, and lethargy in these amphibians. While the disease has not been officially detected in Manitoba, experts believe it could be present due to its widespread occurrence on the continent.
Chytridiomycosis is caused by two different fungal pathogens, one affecting frogs and toads (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) and the other affecting salamanders (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans). The latter pathogen, originating in East Asia, has devastated local salamander populations in parts of Europe in recent years.
The disease has been linked to the extinction of at least 90 amphibian species worldwide and has negatively impacted over 500 others. It has been described as one of the worst infectious diseases among vertebrates and has been spreading in the U.S. and Canada.
In Alberta, nearly half of frog populations sampled tested positive for chytrid between 2006-2010, while studies in British Columbia found it present in one out of every 10 amphibians sampled. The northern leopard frog, listed as endangered in parts of Western Canada, has experienced population declines, with suspicions that chytrid may have contributed to a significant drop in numbers decades ago.
While the disease has been confirmed in frogs in neighboring provinces and states, Manitoba remains chytrid-free officially. Researchers are concerned that with environmental changes and a warming climate, the risk to amphibians in the Prairies may increase. Proactive monitoring programs at Brandon University aim to detect and potentially mitigate the spread of the disease among Manitoba’s amphibian populations.
Efforts are underway to inoculate young frogs against the effects of chytrid, with promising results suggesting increased survival rates. Researchers hope that these strategies can help protect amphibians in Manitoba and prevent further declines in populations.