skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Search for: All records

Creators/Authors contains: "DeMarchi, Joseph A"

Note: When clicking on a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) number, you will be taken to an external site maintained by the publisher. Some full text articles may not yet be available without a charge during the embargo (administrative interval).
What is a DOI Number?

Some links on this page may take you to non-federal websites. Their policies may differ from this site.

  1. IntroductionBatrachochytrium salamandrivorans(Bsal) poses a major threat to global amphibian biodiversity. It is essential we understandBsaltransmission to develop better-informed management strategies. Infected carcasses are an important source of transmission for several human and wildlife disease systems; however, they have not been examined as sources forBsalexposure. Here, we evaluated whether infected newt carcasses could contribute toBsaltransmission dynamics. MethodsWe cohoused infected carcasses with susceptible newts in two cohousing chamber types (partitioned or non-partitioned) at three timepoints post-mortem ([0,24[, [24,48, [48,72] hrs). The partitioned chamber prevented newt-to-newt contact hence only allowed indirect, waterborne transmission of zoospores. We measured shedding rates of infected carcasses at each post-mortem timepoint and monitored infection status and mortality of susceptible newts which were exposed during cohousing events. ResultsOur results indicate carcasses are capable of transmittingBsalto susceptible newts up to at least 72 hrs post-mortem, even without live newts directly contacting carcasses. All susceptible newts in each chamber type and post-mortem period became infected and >90% experienced disease-induced mortality.Bsalgenomic copies/uL in skin swabs taken from infected carcasses were high, averaging 7.4x105, 8.6x105, and 2.0x106at 24, 48, and 72 hrs post-mortem, respectively. Water samples collected from cohousing chambers averaged 2743Bsalgenomic copies/uL (approximately 1357 zoospores) and did not decline over 72 hrs. DiscussionOur results indicateBsalinfection can occur rapidly between infected carcasses and susceptible aquatic salamanders via indirect and direct transmission pathways, and carcasses may prolong outbreaks by increasing the duration that infected individuals remain infectious. Carcass removal may be a strategy to reduceBsaltransmission and the impacts of outbreaks. 
    more » « less