Biology session

The present study aims to reveal the prevalence, intensity and abundance of the amphibian chytrid, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in an amphibian community in Hungary. The pathogen was detected first in the country in 2004 and is still present at many locations. A previous study showed high prevalence of a juvenile yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata) population in Iharkút, Magas-Bakony, in a permanent lake close to an open Bauxit mine. Our objective was to analyse this affected area and find out which species and which developmental stage is most susceptible to the chytrid fungus within this amphibian community. We also examined whether the prevalence, intensity and abundance of the pathogen differs between seasons.

We examined 241 specimens of 8 taxons and found Bd on 26 specimens (22 Bombina variegata and 4 Pelophyalx sp.), however none of them showed the clinical symptoms of chytridiomycosis. During our field work, we did not find any dead amphibians either and there was no sign of population decline. The prevalence within the entire community was 0,108. The statistical analyses showed significant difference in prevalence between juvenile B. variegata and Pelophylax sp., indicating the first species to be more infected. Moreover, we found evidence that both the prevalence and the mean intensity was higher in the yellow-bellied toad population during the spring. Despite the fortunate fact that chytridiomycosis seems to be absent from Hungarian amphibian communities, constant monitoring of the presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is needed.