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DAO 78:87-95 (2007)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao01861

Survey for the amphibian chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Hong Kong in native amphibians and in the international amphibian trade

Jodi J. L. Rowley1,5,*, Simon Kin Fung Chan2, Wing Sze Tang2, Richard Speare3, Lee F. Skerratt4, Ross A. Alford1, Ka Shing Cheung2, Ching Yee Ho2, Ruth Campbell4

1School of Marine and Tropical Biology and Amphibian Disease Ecology Group, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4811
2Herpetofauna Working Group, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 7/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
3School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Amphibian Disease Ecology Group, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4811
4School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and Amphibian Disease Ecology Group, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia 4811
5Present address: Conservation International Indo-Burma, PO Box 1356, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

ABSTRACT: Chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is responsible for many amphibian declines and has been identified in wild amphibian populations on all continents where they exist, except for Asia. In order to assess whether B. dendrobatidis is present on the native amphibians of Hong Kong, we sampled wild populations of Amolops hongkongensis, Paa exilispinosa, P. spinosa and Rana chloronota during 2005–2006. Amphibians infected with B. dendrobatidis have been found in the international trade, so we also examined the extent and nature of the amphibian trade in Hong Kong during 2005–2006, and assessed whether B. dendrobatidis was present in imported amphibians. All 274 individuals of 4 native amphibian species sampled tested negative for B. dendrobatidis, giving an upper 95% confidence limit for prevalence of 1.3%. Approximately 4.3 million amphibians of 45 species from 11 countries were imported into Hong Kong via air over 12 mo; we did not detect B. dendrobatidis on any of 137 imported amphibians sampled. As B. dendrobatidis generally occurs at greater than 5% prevalence in infected populations during favorable environmental conditions, native amphibians in Hong Kong appear free of B. dendrobatidis, and may be at severe risk of impact if it is introduced. Until it is established that the pathogen is present in Hong Kong, management strategies should focus on preventing it from being imported and decreasing the risk of it escaping into the wild amphibian populations if imported. Further research is needed to determine the status of B. dendrobatidis in Hong Kong with greater certainty.


KEY WORDS: Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis · Amphibian chytrid fungus · Chytridiomycosis · Asia · China · Disease · Wildlife trade · Frogs


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Cite this article as: Rowley JJL, Chan SKF, Tang WS, Speare R and others (2007) Survey for the amphibian chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Hong Kong in native amphibians and in the international amphibian trade. Dis Aquat Org 78:87-95. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao01861

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