38. Chytridiomycosis Prevalence in North Georgia Amphibian Populations

Abstract

Chytridiomycosis is a fungal disease caused by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a contributing factor to global amphibian population declines. Chytridiomycosis is rapidly growing throughout other regions of the world, thus we thought to carry out testing to determine the prevalence of the disease in the United States by examining North Georgia regions. From Spring of 2013 to Fall of 2015, amphibians from 3 different populations located in the North East Georgia Piedmont region were swabbed for the Bd pathogen using passive sampling techniques. DNA from groups of different amphibians including, the American Toad, Bullfrog, Eastern Newt, Fowler Toad, Green Frog, Green Tree Frog, Leopard Frog, and Spring Peeper were collected via cotton swabs, labeled and preserved in collection tubes for further analysis. By a series of genetic examination techniques including DNA extraction and nested PCR, the DNA presence or absence of the chytridiomycosis allele has been determined indicating the prevalence of the chytrid fungus in amphibian populations within the northern Georgia regions. In 2016, two samples collected from Tumbling Creek and Elachee Park, were reported to contain the Bd pathogen. Here, we present results of further DNA testing of these samples. These data are indicators of the health of amphibian populations in the North Georgia region.