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Genetic potential for disease resistance in critically endangered amphibians decimated by chytridiomycosis
Author(s) -
Kosch T. A.,
Silva C. N. S.,
Brannelly L. A.,
Roberts A. A.,
Lau Q.,
Marantelli G.,
Berger L.,
Skerratt L. F.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
animal conservation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.111
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1469-1795
pISSN - 1367-9430
DOI - 10.1111/acv.12459
Subject(s) - chytridiomycosis , biology , amphibian , genetic diversity , endangered species , population , zoology , wildlife disease , ecology , evolutionary biology , genetics , wildlife , habitat , demography , sociology
Hundreds of amphibian species have declined worldwide after the emergence of the amphibian fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ). Despite captive breeding efforts, it is unlikely that wild populations for many species will be reestablished unless Bd resistance increases. We performed a Bd ‐challenge study in the functionally extinct southern corroboree frog Pseudophryne corroboree to investigate differences in Bd susceptibility among individuals and populations, identify genetic [major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I] and genome‐wide variants associated with Bd resistance, and measure genetic diversity and population genetic structure. We found three MHC variants and one MHC supertype associated with Bd infection load and survival along with a suggestively associated single nucleotide polymorphism. We also showed that genome‐wide heterozygosity is associated with increased survival. Additionally, we found evidence of significant population structure among the four P. corroboree populations studied and high MHC genetic diversity. Our results indicate that there are immunogenetic differences among captive southern corroboree frogs; such differences could be manipulated to increase disease resistance and mitigate the significant threat of chytridiomycosis. These results demonstrate a potential long‐term solution to chytridiomycosis that could include breeding more resistant individuals and returning them to the wild.