Investigation of Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis in Four Boreal Toad (Bufo Boreas Boreas) Populations in Wyoming

Abstract

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Figure 1) is a newly described chytridiomycete fungus that infects amphibian keratin (Berger et al. 1998). It is reported to cause disease and mortality in metamorphosed amphibians around the world (Lips 1998: Young et al. 2001; Bradley et al. 2002; Muths et al. 2003). In several cases, this pathogen is believed to be the primary cause of extinction for amphibian species (Daszak et al. 1999).