The role of introduced species and environmental change in the spread and impacts of an emerging global amphibian pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

新出现的传染病对生物多样性和人类健康构成严重威胁。了解疾病出现的原因，确定传播媒介，评估控制传播和致病性的因素，现在已成为紧迫的研究重点。1998年首次被发现，树状巴氏杆菌引起的合孢子菌病是一种新出现的疾病，在欧洲、北美、中美洲和南美洲以及澳大利亚，两栖动物的灾难性减少都与此有关。我们的试点项目于2005年在温哥华岛上发现了这种疾病。此外，美国牛蛙(Rana Catesbeiana)被认为是传播树枝杆菌的重要媒介，已在该省广泛引进，并正在扩大其范围。在加拿大西部，这对濒临灭绝和受到威胁的两栖动物，如北豹蛙、俄勒冈斑蛙和西部蟾蜍有潜在的影响。关于这种疾病在整个加拿大的潜在影响，人们知之甚少。我们将利用因子中观实验、实地调查、遗传方法和建模，研究自然生物和非生物因素、污染物和栖息地变化如何相互作用影响传播和棘球菌病的进展。我们的合作者加拿大环境部B.Pauli先生、野生动物健康项目H.Schwantje博士和不列颠哥伦比亚省环境部生态系统处P.Govindarajulu博士将利用我们的研究信息来计划濒危两栖动物的恢复，并制定景观级别的管理战略，以预防/减轻两栖动物疾病的爆发。伦敦动物学会动物研究所的TWJ Garner博士和部门的M Fisher博士。伦敦帝国理工学院传染病流行病学研究所是了解由疾病驱动的全球两栖动物减少的国际努力的一部分，并将为我们提供必要的技术援助，以研究包虫病出现和传播的生态和遗传驱动因素。我们的项目将有助于对野生动物中迅速出现的传染病的动态和管理进行亟需的研究。

Emerging infectious diseases pose a serious threat to both biodiversity and human health. Understanding the reasons for disease emergence, identifying the vectors of spread and assessing factors that govern transmission and pathogenicity have now become urgent research priorities. First recognized in 1998, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis caused chytridiomycosis is an emerging disease that has been implicated in catastrophic declines of amphibians in Europe, North America, Central and South America, and Australia. Our pilot project in 2005 detected this disease on Vancouver Island. In addition, the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), which is believed to be an important vector of B. dendrobatidis dispersal, has been widely introduced in the province and is expanding its range. In western Canada there is potential impact on endangered and threatened amphibians such as the Northern Leopard Frog, Oregon Spotted Frog, and Western Toad. Little is known aboutthe potential impact of the disease Canada-wide. We will examine how natural biotic and abiotic factors, contaminants and habitat change, interact to influence transmission and chytridiomycosis progression using factorial mesocosm experiments, field surveys, genetic approaches and modeling. Our collaborators Mr. B. Pauli, Environment Canada, Dr. H. Schwantje, Wildlife Health Program, and Dr. P. Govindarajulu, Ecosystems Branch, BC Ministry of the Environment will utilize the information from our research to plan recovery for endangered amphibians and to institute landscape level management strategies to prevent/mitigate amphibian disease outbreaks. Dr. TWJ Garner at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London and Dr. M Fisher at the Dept. of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, London are part of theinternational effort to understand disease driven global amphibian declines and will provide us with the technical assistance necessary to examine ecological and genetic drivers for the emergence and spread of chytridiomycosis. Our project will contribute much needed research into the dynamics and management of rapidly emerging infectious diseases in wildlife.