An Amphibian Fungus Has Become 'The Most Deadly Pathogen Known To Science' 93
"On Thursday, 41 scientists published the first worldwide analysis of a fungal outbreak that's been wiping out frogs for decades," The New York Times reports. The outbreak has caused more than 500 species of amphibians to decline significantly (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source), making it "the most deadly pathogen known to science." From the report: Scientists first noticed in the 1970s that some frog populations were declining quickly; by the 1980s, some species appeared to be extinct. The losses were puzzling, because the frogs were living in pristine habitats, unharmed by pollution or deforestation. In the late 1990s, researchers discovered that frogs in both Australia and Panama were infected with a deadly fungus, which they named Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis -- Bd, for short. The fungus turned up in other countries, but studies of its DNA suggest that Bd originated on the Korean Peninsula. In Asia, amphibians seem impervious to Bd, but when it got to other parts of the world â" probably via the international trade in pet amphibians -- the pathogen reached hundreds of vulnerable species.
Amphibians are infected with Bd by contact with other animals or by spores floating in the water. The fungus invades skin cells and multiplies. An infected frog's skin will start to peel away as the animal grows sluggish. Before it dies, a frog may manage to hop its way to a new stream or pond, spreading the fungus further. The fungus thrives in cool, moist conditions. As a result, frogs that live in cloud forests on mountainsides have been hit particularly hard. Big frogs are at a greater risk, too, possibly because they don't multiply as quickly as small ones. [The lead author of the new study and his colleagues] identified 501 species in decline, far greater than the previous estimate of 200. Certain factors once thought to account for the decimation of frog populations -- like climate change and deforestation -- are not the greatest threats, the scientists found. The study has been published in the journal Science.
Amphibians are infected with Bd by contact with other animals or by spores floating in the water. The fungus invades skin cells and multiplies. An infected frog's skin will start to peel away as the animal grows sluggish. Before it dies, a frog may manage to hop its way to a new stream or pond, spreading the fungus further. The fungus thrives in cool, moist conditions. As a result, frogs that live in cloud forests on mountainsides have been hit particularly hard. Big frogs are at a greater risk, too, possibly because they don't multiply as quickly as small ones. [The lead author of the new study and his colleagues] identified 501 species in decline, far greater than the previous estimate of 200. Certain factors once thought to account for the decimation of frog populations -- like climate change and deforestation -- are not the greatest threats, the scientists found. The study has been published in the journal Science.
Australia, are you noting this? (Score:5, Funny)
Pepe sheds a tear for his buddies (Score:2)
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Seems like you are triggered already.
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how could this be? Maybe at least Putin's fault or white male supremacy? C'mon give us something to be outraged about.
They already told you
Bd originated on the Korean Peninsula
So it's one to drop at Kim's feet.
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Which raises a question. Why doesn't Kim have it, with his close resemblance to a frog?
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I would recommend that you get your education in science from more reputable sources then Cable TV
The problem with these sources is that they are trying to stay interesting all the time. So when they actually report on Science it is often on the far off Hypothesis of the week. The Hypothesis process of the scientific method can be wrong, and usually incomplete. But it is the question that is asked, that requires further research to say yes this is a good idea, or no this is a stupid idea.
In terms of the ne
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The fungus spread is due to it being an invasive species being spread by human global trade. So it is still our fault.
Global Climate change may also have an effect on this as well. As many amphibian are already stressed from changes in their climate, meaning they are less likely to handle the Fungus and other stresses as well.
The biggest problem is that with our exponential advancements in science and engineering over the last 150 years, we have created changes in our environment at an unprecedented rate wh
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Wow (Score:3)
Re:Wow (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Wow (Score:5, Informative)
Different tissues have different adhesions proteins - that's how, for example, your eyelids can stick together but not stick to your eyeball - and the precise proteins vary from one species to another. But they do form families of related proteins, more closely related in more closely related species. (If I recall correctly, some of the first evidence that whales were more closely related to hippopotamuses than any other animals came from the proteins on the surfaces of their respective blood cells which would coagulate with each other. Yes, those troublesome blood groups are the result of adhesion proteins.)
Oddly, it's a complicated subject. A few tens of thousands of species, each one with a few hundreds of relevant protein families, the mutual interactions of any with any being potentially significant.
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Just as an FYI, the plural of virus is viruses, not virii (which is not even a word).
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This isn't killing all frogs, just ones that are susceptible. As the article stated:
In Asia, amphibians seem impervious to Bd
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You, obviously, know more about this than I. I had to look up the word "clade". Thanks!
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Rabies [wikipedia.org] comes damned close!
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A pathogen that affects entire class of animals, wow, just wow. That's an equivalent of a disease that affected all mammals indiscriminately, I didn't think such a thing was possible.
Rabies...
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Hope springs eternal... (Score:5, Funny)
... perhaps this pathogen can be engineered to infect only politicians.
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You're obviously a racist. Lawyers and politicians ARE the same species. Just like, due to the cross breading, journalists now are.
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Obligatory Plague Inc. Evolved comment (Score:1)
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Out of Control. (Score:3)
The spawning of this fungus has been toadaly out of control. We should always remember just how bad a pathogen can be to a species. Never froget about it.
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Politicians, such as AOC, Nancy Pelosi, John McCain, are on the record thinking that their office gives them the power to rule. No. They are employees hired to legislate. We are citizens. Not subjects.
Now, those who want the government to be all-powerful do not see the populace as citizens. They are a herd to be led, if they're docile, or whipped, if they're not.
Ban International Pet Trade!!! (Score:3, Insightful)
"probably via the international trade in pet amphibians"
Who knows how many other diseases & invasive species gained access to whole (Western) World (& still do) because of international pet trade!!!
& not to mention, how much of those pets get horrible treatment/suffering of all kinds!!!
How about banning ALL INTERNATIONAL PET TRADE globally/completely/absolutely???
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In most cases having an exotic pet is ok - but only if you're willing to keep it contained and destroy it when it's time.
It's that last part that gets forgotten, however. They'd prefer to just "let 'em go", etc. They'll take their exotic turtle that's too big now and dump it in an irrigation ditch. No harm, no foul, right? That kind of stupidity usually works out (the animal doesn't survive out of its element), but not always. It played a role in burmese pythons getting into the Florida everglades. Two moro
weakened immune system (Score:1)
Isn't there some indication that the bees, bats, and frogs are all dying because of pesticides? The actual agent of destruction, in this case a fungus, taking advantage of a weakened immune system?
Wrong (Score:2)
Even the summary says that its affecting frogs in pristine environment, with no pesticides and long before global warming was a real concern.
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the cure (Score:5, Insightful)
I thought they found a cure 4 years ago!
https://phys.org/news/2015-11-chytrid-scientists-method-killer-fungus.html
This is deep sh*t (Score:2)
I mean, other than the idiot teenagers and the anti-science supporters of the GOP, everyone knows that frogs and toads are the canary in the coal mine... and this means we are in seriously deep sh*t.
Interesting question: any chance that this is someone's test gene editing gone horribly wrong?
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I mean, other than the idiot teenagers and the anti-science supporters of the GOP, everyone knows that frogs and toads are the canary in the coal mine... and this means we are in seriously deep sh*t.
I have no idea how true this is, but perhaps the climate and pollution, etc. not being as significant of factors as this disease means the idea that frogs are an indicator of environmental health isn't as true anymore?
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In fact, it sounds like global warming could help kill off the fungus, making it better for the amphibians: "The fungus thrives in cool, moist conditions."
So we're not to blame (Score:2)