Author(s): Dustin Kolste, Austin Turner
Mentor(s): Curt Walker
Institution UTech
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a type of chytrid fungus that infects amphibian hosts with a disease called Chytridiomycosis. It does this by attacking the keratin layer of the host’s skin which leads to a disruption in the ability to regulate electrolyte levels, respiration, and water uptake, ultimately leading to death in most cases. One treatment that has shown promising results, is promoting resistance through exposure to fungus metabolites prior to exposure to live fungus. In the present experiment, 31 Baja California Tree Frogs were purchased and split into a control group containing 6 frogs and a test group containing 25 frogs. After two weeks of acclimation, each member of the control group received three drops of the fungus growth medium on their skin three times weekly. Each member of the test group received three drops of the growth medium that also contained the filtered metabolites from the fungus on their skin three times weekly. After two weeks of these treatments, the frogs were observed for two weeks and subsequently swabbed. Once swabs were collected, each member of the test group was exposed to three drops of growth medium containing live chytrid fungus while each member of the control group was again exposed to three drops of the growth medium. After two weeks of these exposures, all frogs were observed for an additional two weeks before they were swabbed to test for chytrid infection. Swabs from the test group contained zero target copies of Bd in samples collected after metabolite exposure and live fungus. Exposure to fungus metabolites prior to live fungus did appear to promote resistance in Baja California Tree Frogs.