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In a vulnerable position? Preliminary survey work fails to detect the amphibian chytrid pathogen in the highlands of Cameroon, an amphibian hotspot

Abstract:

Establishing the presence in a region of the lethal amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is important for predicting changes in amphibian assemblages, particularly in areas of high amphibian biodiversity. We examined 283 specimens of 26 anuran and one caecilian species inhabiting the highlands within North West Province, Cameroon, for the presence of B. dendrobatidis using real time PCR. All samples were negative for this pathogen. This part of Africa is a global hotspot for amphibian biodiversity. Our findings suggest that amphibians in this region are possibly naive to chytrid and are, therefore, at risk from the introduction of this pathogen.