10.5061/DRYAD.X69P8CZHJ
Lentz, Thomas
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Thi, Stephanie
North Carolina State University
Duncan, Andrew
North Carolina State University
Miranda, Adam
North Carolina State University
Beane, Jeffrey
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Dombrowski, Daniel
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Forester, Brenna
Duke University
Akcali, Christopher
University of North Carolina
Shepard, Nathan
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program
Corey III, J. Edward
North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
Braswell, Alvin
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Williams, Lori
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Lawson, Charles
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Jenkins, Christopher
The Orianne Society
Pechmann, Joseph
Western Carolina University
Blake, Jacqueline
North Carolina State University
Hooper, Melissa
Lees McRae College
Freitas, Keenan
Lees McRae College
Somers, Ann
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Stuart, Bryan
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Prevalence of Ranavirus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, B.
salamandrivorans, and Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in Amphibians and Reptiles
of North Carolina, USA
Dryad
dataset
2021
Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine
https://ror.org/02yjqwr70
North Carolina State University
https://ror.org/04tj63d06
2021-08-12T00:00:00Z
2021-08-12T00:00:00Z
en
https://ssarherps.org/herpetological-review-pdfs/
258984 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The viral pathogen Ranavirus (Rv) and the fungal
pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), B. salamandrivorans (Bsal),
and Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (Oo) infect amphibians and reptiles. In
recent years, there has been increased interest in reporting the
occurrences of these pathogens. North Carolina, USA has a rich diversity
of amphibians and reptiles, and is notably the most species-rich U.S.
state in salamanders. We assessed prevalence of Rv, Bd, Bsal, and Oo in a
broad taxonomic and geographic representation of amphibians and reptiles
in North Carolina. Non-lethal skin swabs were taken using standardized
methods from 718 amphibians and 254 reptiles, most of which were wild
caught across North Carolina, with some captive individuals from living
collections at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North
Carolina State University Veterinary College. The presence and quantity
of Rv, Bd, Bsal, or Oo DNA in the swabs was determined by quantitative
polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Rv was found in 29% of the amphibians
and reptiles that were tested, Bd was found in 14% of the frogs and
salamanders tested, and Oo was found in 10% of the snakes tested. Presence
of Bd was positively associated with presence of Rv in frogs but not in
salamanders. Rv, Bd, Bsal, and Oo were found in a wide variety of species
and across the state. As none of the individuals sampled were apparently
sick or coming from populations with recent mass die-off or mortality
events, this research suggests that these three pathogens are probably
endemic to North Carolina and found naturally in wild
populations. Bsal was not found in any samples, consistent with the
finding that this pathogen has not yet been detected in the wild anywhere
else in the USA. As this pathogen is associated with wild salamander
die-offs in Europe, its introduction into salamander-rich North Carolina
could be catastrophic. Hence efforts to continue to monitor for Bsal and
prevent its introduction into the USA remain very important.
Please see details in the publication: Lentz, T. B., M. C. Allender, S. Y.
Thi, A. S. Duncan, A. X. Miranda, J. C. Beane, D. S. Dombrowski, B. R.
Forester, C. K. Akcali, N. A. Shepard, J. E. Corey III, A. L. Braswell, L.
A. Williams, C. R. Lawson, C. Jenkins, J. H. K. Pechmann, J. Blake, M.
Hooper, K. Freitas, A. B. Somers, and B. L. Stuart. 2021. Prevalence
of Ranavirus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, B. salamandrivorans,
and Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in amphibians and reptiles of North
Carolina, USA. Herpetological Review 52(2): 285-293.
The dataset consists of an Excel spreadsheet that contains sample data
(locality, date, collector, museum voucher, if applicable) and results of
quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCR) to determine the presence
and quantity of four pathogens in swabs of amphibians and reptiles from
North Carolina, USA. Locality details below the county level were
withheld for sensitive species, but are available upon request from the
corresponding author Bryan L. Stuart (bryan.stuart@naturalsciences.org).
Please see the attached README.txt file for definitions of the spreadsheet
column headings.