Outbreaks and the Emergence of Novel Fungal Infections: Lessons from the Panzootic of Amphibian Chytridiomycosis

Matthew C.  Fisher; Rhys A. Farrer

Outbreaks and the Emergence of Novel Fungal Infections: Lessons from the Panzootic of Amphibian Chytridiomycosis

Matthew C. Fisher (Corresponding Author), Rhys A. Farrer

Medical Sciences

Imperial College London

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Chytridiomycosis is a cutaneous infection of amphibians caused by the chytridiomycete fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Despite being in a phylum not known for pathogenicity in vertebrates, Bd is now recognized as a primary driver of amphibian declines. Data show that this novel pathogen emerged in the 20th century to colonize amphibians worldwide. Such rapid emergence of a previously unrecognized pathogen illustrates many aspects of emerging fungal infections that threaten human health, namely long-distance human-mediated dispersal, multihost reservoirs, and altered virulence. In order to combat Bd, new tools have been developed to track its global spread and to analyze in parallel whole-genome diversity. This article details how such tools have applications to tracking and managing human fungal infections.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	73-81
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Invasive Fungal Infections
Volume	5
Issue number	3
Publication status	Published - Jan 2011

Bibliographical note

The UK Natural Environmental Research Council and the European Research Area Network project “Risk Assessment of Chytridiomycosis to European Amphibian Biodiversity” (RACE) have provided funding for this research.

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title = "Outbreaks and the Emergence of Novel Fungal Infections: Lessons from the Panzootic of Amphibian Chytridiomycosis",

abstract = "Chytridiomycosis is a cutaneous infection of amphibians caused by the chytridiomycete fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Despite being in a phylum not known for pathogenicity in vertebrates, Bd is now recognized as a primary driver of amphibian declines. Data show that this novel pathogen emerged in the 20th century to colonize amphibians worldwide. Such rapid emergence of a previously unrecognized pathogen illustrates many aspects of emerging fungal infections that threaten human health, namely long-distance human-mediated dispersal, multihost reservoirs, and altered virulence. In order to combat Bd, new tools have been developed to track its global spread and to analyze in parallel whole-genome diversity. This article details how such tools have applications to tracking and managing human fungal infections. ",

author = "Fisher, {Matthew C.} and Farrer, {Rhys A.}",

note = "The UK Natural Environmental Research Council and the European Research Area Network project “Risk Assessment of Chytridiomycosis to European Amphibian Biodiversity” (RACE) have provided funding for this research. ",

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AU - Fisher, Matthew C.

AU - Farrer, Rhys A.

N1 - The UK Natural Environmental Research Council and the European Research Area Network project “Risk Assessment of Chytridiomycosis to European Amphibian Biodiversity” (RACE) have provided funding for this research.

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N2 - Chytridiomycosis is a cutaneous infection of amphibians caused by the chytridiomycete fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Despite being in a phylum not known for pathogenicity in vertebrates, Bd is now recognized as a primary driver of amphibian declines. Data show that this novel pathogen emerged in the 20th century to colonize amphibians worldwide. Such rapid emergence of a previously unrecognized pathogen illustrates many aspects of emerging fungal infections that threaten human health, namely long-distance human-mediated dispersal, multihost reservoirs, and altered virulence. In order to combat Bd, new tools have been developed to track its global spread and to analyze in parallel whole-genome diversity. This article details how such tools have applications to tracking and managing human fungal infections.

AB - Chytridiomycosis is a cutaneous infection of amphibians caused by the chytridiomycete fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Despite being in a phylum not known for pathogenicity in vertebrates, Bd is now recognized as a primary driver of amphibian declines. Data show that this novel pathogen emerged in the 20th century to colonize amphibians worldwide. Such rapid emergence of a previously unrecognized pathogen illustrates many aspects of emerging fungal infections that threaten human health, namely long-distance human-mediated dispersal, multihost reservoirs, and altered virulence. In order to combat Bd, new tools have been developed to track its global spread and to analyze in parallel whole-genome diversity. This article details how such tools have applications to tracking and managing human fungal infections.

M3 - Article

SN - 1753-3783

VL - 5

SP - 73

EP - 81

JO - Journal of Invasive Fungal Infections

JF - Journal of Invasive Fungal Infections

IS - 3

ER -

Outbreaks and the Emergence of Novel Fungal Infections: Lessons from the Panzootic of Amphibian Chytridiomycosis

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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