Spread of Amphibian Chytrid Fungus across Lowland Populations of Túngara Frogs in Panamá

A study tracking the spread of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) across lowland habitats in Panamá from 2009 to 2014 reveals that this pathogen, already enzootic in highland regions, has expanded its range into remote lowland areas, including Darién National Park. The research focused on the Túngara frog (Physalaemus pustulosus), a common and abundant species in these regions, which may serve as asymptomatic reservoirs or dispersal agents for Bd. While highland populations were infected at the study's onset, central Panamá recorded its first positive samples in 2010, with Bd detected in eastern sites by 2014. This expansion underscores the importance of studying lowland species to understand their role in Bd dynamics and potential impacts on more susceptible highland amphibians.

Rodríguez-Brenes, S., Rodriguez, D., Ibáñez, R., & Ryan, M. J. (2016). Spread of Amphibian Chytrid Fungus across Lowland Populations of Túngara Frogs in Panamá. Plos One, 11(5), e0155745. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155745