Assays on the amphibian Chytrid fungus at Crocker Range, Sabah

Assays on the amphibian Chytrid fungus at Crocker Range, Sabah

Global amphibian population decline is happening at an alarming rate. Comparatively, anurans (Amphibia: Anura) face greater risk due to its greater representation in the Class Amphibia, and wider distribution throughout the Earth. Batrachochytrium dendrobatldis (Bd), the amphibian chytrid fungus, ha...

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Main Author: Livon, Maximus Lo Ka Fu
Format: Thesis
Language:English
English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
SF951-997.5 Diseases of special classes of animals
Online Access:https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41714/2/ABSTRACT.pdf
https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41714/1/FULLTEXT.pdf
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spelling my-ums-ep.417142024-11-29T04:49:42Z Assays on the amphibian Chytrid fungus at Crocker Range, Sabah 2012 Livon, Maximus Lo Ka Fu SF951-997.5 Diseases of special classes of animals Global amphibian population decline is happening at an alarming rate. Comparatively, anurans (Amphibia: Anura) face greater risk due to its greater representation in the Class Amphibia, and wider distribution throughout the Earth. Batrachochytrium dendrobatldis (Bd), the amphibian chytrid fungus, has been associated with the dramatic decline of amphibian and anuran populations globally. Thus, a study on the prevalence of the amphibian chytrid fungus on anuran population becomes imperative. The objectives of this study were (i) to investigate the prevalence of amphibian chytrid fungus, Bd, on anuran species at Crocker Range, Sabah and (ii) to assess the species composition of general fungal microflora on anuran species at Crocker Range. The study was conducted in Crocker Range which encompasses Crocker Range Park (CRP) and Kinabalu National Park (KNP). The altitude of the sampling sites ranged from 120 - 3,242 m a.s.l., temperatures ranged from 9 - 31°C, and relative humidity ranged from 53 - 100%. Opportunistic examination was applied in anuran sampling. Swab-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) approach was used to detect Bci. Swab-culture-based and PCR assay were used to isolate and identify the general fungal microflora from anuran skin. A total of 418 adult anurans representing 36 species, 17 genera and five families were collected. As for larval anurans, 298 larvae of Hylarana sp., Leptobrachium sp., Meristogenys sp., and Rhacophorus sp. were collected. A total of 507 specimens of anurans representing 418 wild adults, nine adult Lithobates catesbianus, 80 larvae with depigmented mouthpart, and three dead anurans were analysed for Bd presence. All collected anuran species were tested negative for Bd DNA. The reason for the absence of Bd in anurans at both Parks could be affected by temperature, altitude, latitude, and seasons, and varied response among anuran species towards Bd infection. Factors such as host age, innate defense such as the production of antimicrobial peptides, proportion of anti-chytrid microbes, and strains of Bd itself could also influence the prevalence of Bd. The lack of baseline information on the susceptibility of the sampled species to Bd infection is also preventing a definite conclusion regarding the absence of Bd in CRP and KNP to be drawn. A total of 19 genera of fungi representing 15 families and six classes from two phyla, namely Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, were identified from anuran skin. Further studies on the prevalence of Bd, and general fungal microflora on anuran species need to be conducted throughout Sabah, Borneo, and Malaysia. 2012 Thesis https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41714/ https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41714/2/ABSTRACT.pdf text en public https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41714/1/FULLTEXT.pdf text en validuser masters Universiti Malaysia Sabah Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation
institution Universiti Malaysia Sabah
collection UMS Institutional Repository
language English
English
topic SF951-997.5 Diseases of special classes of animals
spellingShingle SF951-997.5 Diseases of special classes of animals
Livon, Maximus Lo Ka Fu
Assays on the amphibian Chytrid fungus at Crocker Range, Sabah
description Global amphibian population decline is happening at an alarming rate. Comparatively, anurans (Amphibia: Anura) face greater risk due to its greater representation in the Class Amphibia, and wider distribution throughout the Earth. Batrachochytrium dendrobatldis (Bd), the amphibian chytrid fungus, has been associated with the dramatic decline of amphibian and anuran populations globally. Thus, a study on the prevalence of the amphibian chytrid fungus on anuran population becomes imperative. The objectives of this study were (i) to investigate the prevalence of amphibian chytrid fungus, Bd, on anuran species at Crocker Range, Sabah and (ii) to assess the species composition of general fungal microflora on anuran species at Crocker Range. The study was conducted in Crocker Range which encompasses Crocker Range Park (CRP) and Kinabalu National Park (KNP). The altitude of the sampling sites ranged from 120 - 3,242 m a.s.l., temperatures ranged from 9 - 31°C, and relative humidity ranged from 53 - 100%. Opportunistic examination was applied in anuran sampling. Swab-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) approach was used to detect Bci. Swab-culture-based and PCR assay were used to isolate and identify the general fungal microflora from anuran skin. A total of 418 adult anurans representing 36 species, 17 genera and five families were collected. As for larval anurans, 298 larvae of Hylarana sp., Leptobrachium sp., Meristogenys sp., and Rhacophorus sp. were collected. A total of 507 specimens of anurans representing 418 wild adults, nine adult Lithobates catesbianus, 80 larvae with depigmented mouthpart, and three dead anurans were analysed for Bd presence. All collected anuran species were tested negative for Bd DNA. The reason for the absence of Bd in anurans at both Parks could be affected by temperature, altitude, latitude, and seasons, and varied response among anuran species towards Bd infection. Factors such as host age, innate defense such as the production of antimicrobial peptides, proportion of anti-chytrid microbes, and strains of Bd itself could also influence the prevalence of Bd. The lack of baseline information on the susceptibility of the sampled species to Bd infection is also preventing a definite conclusion regarding the absence of Bd in CRP and KNP to be drawn. A total of 19 genera of fungi representing 15 families and six classes from two phyla, namely Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, were identified from anuran skin. Further studies on the prevalence of Bd, and general fungal microflora on anuran species need to be conducted throughout Sabah, Borneo, and Malaysia.
format Thesis
qualification_level Master's degree
author Livon, Maximus Lo Ka Fu
author_facet Livon, Maximus Lo Ka Fu
author_sort Livon, Maximus Lo Ka Fu
title Assays on the amphibian Chytrid fungus at Crocker Range, Sabah
title_short Assays on the amphibian Chytrid fungus at Crocker Range, Sabah
title_full Assays on the amphibian Chytrid fungus at Crocker Range, Sabah
title_fullStr Assays on the amphibian Chytrid fungus at Crocker Range, Sabah
title_full_unstemmed Assays on the amphibian Chytrid fungus at Crocker Range, Sabah
title_sort assays on the amphibian chytrid fungus at crocker range, sabah
granting_institution Universiti Malaysia Sabah
granting_department Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation
publishDate 2012
url https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41714/2/ABSTRACT.pdf
https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/41714/1/FULLTEXT.pdf
_version_ 1818611425843609600

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