Chytrid Fungus

Panama amphibian rescue tainted by chytrid fungus

In the aftermath of the first expedition to Panama for the Amphibian Rescue and Conservation (PARC) Project, there is now confirmation that the very fungus the Project team was rushing to rescue frogs from in Panama had already arrived in the area. The purpose of this first expedition was to collect living specimens of frogs not yet affected by chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), the disease that has devastated nearly 100 frog species worldwide. It has now been discovered, through testing on frogs from the expedition’s collection, that chytrid fungus has now begun to attack amphibians well east of the Panama Canal Zone.

The rescue group, made up of representatives from the member organizations of the Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, began their week-long expedition in the Panamanian cloud forest in mid-November. The Project team, led by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Smithsonian, collected approximately twenty harlequin frogs (Atelopus limosus) and twenty tree frogs (Hyloscirtus colymba) from Cerro Brewster in Panama’s Chagres National Park.

These two species were brought back to the Summit Municipal Park in Panama while other rescued species were taken to the El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC). The EVACC was established several years ago by the Houston Zoo, a PARC project founder, after massive amphibian declines were witnessed in Western Panama several years ago by researchers and visiting scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).

When screened for disease back in the rescue facility, most of the frogs tested positive for the chytrid fungus. Chytrid attacks the keratin cells in an amphibian's skin. Since amphibians need their skin for respiration, electrolyte balance and protection, changes in their skin chemistry and function is fatal. It is now thought that the electrolyte
imbalance causes death due to cardiac arrest. The fungus also damages the nervous system, affecting the frog's behavior.

“Nearly every specimen collected showed signs of the disease, and they are now being treated with anti-fungal baths,” said Eric Baitchman, head veterinarian of Zoo New England.

This discovery of amphibian chytrid on the frogs at this site means that time has now run out for at least four species of frogs that do not live further East than Cerro Brewster and have been extirpated at all their other known sites.

“If we want to save these species, we will have ramp up capacity a lot faster than anticipated,” said Brian Gratwicke of the National Zoological Park. “We thought we had some breathing space, but in fact, we may already be too late for some species.”

This discovery of chytrid on the frogs collected during the recent expedition now calls for different and immediate response from the Project team. Time is of the essence to go back into the area of the Panamanian jungle where the first collection occurred and to quickly collect the still living specimens that are in harm’s way. Once collected in the field, the rescue team will transport the frogs to safety at a recently outfitted isolation unit at the Summit Municipal Park in Panama, where they can be treated for the fungus and kept as an assurance population. But the team has very little time, as the fungus is known to infect and kill in a matter of weeks.

Work has now begun at the various Project institutions to recruit crews of husbandry professionals and veterinary staff who will travel to Panama in the coming weeks and months to begin care for the rescued population which could number in the hundreds of animals. This new urgent situation requires the Project members to focus on saving the remaining amphibians and to ramp up capacity for creating a sustainable safe harbor for them in a much shorter timeframe than originally envisioned.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo President/CEO Bob Chastain, who led the first Panama expedition in November, states it this way, “Here is the sum of the situation. Right now we can find over 100 frogs in three days. What happens when we only can find two a day? I heard the chair of the AZA board speaking to a group of 1200 conservationist and say, ‘we need to be faster, more nimble and quicker in our actions to save wildlife.’ That is what we need now. Fast, quick, nimble!”

The founding partners of the Project are Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Zoo New England, Houston Zoo, Africam Safari in Mexico, the Summit Municipal Park in Panama, Defenders of Wildlife and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. These various conservation organizations came together earlier in the year and pledged their cooperation and funding to combat the amphibian crisis.

Responding to the expedition’s news, the Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM), Panama’s National Environmental Authority, announced it would join the Project, pledging $150,000 in support.

“Amphibians are an important part of the cultural and biodiversity heritage of Panama, said Javier Arias, director of ANAM. “We are pleased to announce our financial and logistical support as full partners in the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project to build Panamanian capacity to respond to the global amphibian decline crisis.”

The Project partners are collectively working to establish an amphibian conservation breeding center in Panama to house and facilitate study on 15-20 species that are in jeopardy of being eradicated by the chytrid fungus.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has challenged all AZA accredited Zoos and Aquariums to take a leadership role during this amphibian crisis. If this effort fails, one-third to one-half of the world’s amphibians could go extinct.

For more information and to learn about ways to help visit Amphibian Rescue.