Potential Distribution of the Amphibian Pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey

Although Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, pathogen for amphibians, has been reported in Anatolia, its geographical distribution, as well as its impact on the amphibians in Turkey, remained obscure. In this study, 62 adult individuals belonging to ten different species (Pelodytes caucasicus, Rana dalmatina, Rana macrocnemis, Bufo bufo, Bufo verrucosissimus, Bufotes variabilis, Hyla savignyi, Pelophylax ridibundus, Ommatotriton ophryticus, and Mertensiella caucasicus) were collected from five wetland habitats in Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. The prevalence and the intensity of B. dendrobatidis infections in all the individuals were investigated by using quantitative Real-time-PCR technique and the presence of B. dendrobatidis infection was reported for the first time in 13 of the 62 individuals collected from 10 amphibian species from Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey. The intensity of B. dendrobatidis infection ranged from 403.520 to 534.280 genomic equivalents (GE) was detected. The highest GE between amphibian species were determined in P. caucasicus (534.280 GE) in Uzungöl (Çaykara-Trabzon) and B. bufo (504.00 GE) in Lake Karagöl (Şavşat-Artvin)

Comparison of Antimicrobial Activity in the Skin Secretion of Same Anurans from Turkey

Membrane-active cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are a new class of antibiotics produced by amphibian skin. In this study, Frog (Bombina bombina, Rana dalmatina, Rana macrocnemis, Bufo bufo, Bufo viridis, Bufo verrocosmisscus, Pelodytes caucasicus, Pelophylax ridibunda, Pelophylax caralitana) skin secretion was obtained from the dorsal skin using gentle transdermal electrical stimulation. Antimicrobial effects of prepared extracts on the tested microorganisms were determined by using different solvents. In vitro antimicrobial activity studies were carried out by Agar-Disc Diffusion Method. Antibacterial and antiyeast potential of different extracts were obtained from the skin secretions were assessed in terms of zone of inhibition of bacterial growth. According to our findings, all the extracts of skin secretion were obtained from different anurans, exhibit antimicrobial activit

Endemik Beyşehir Kurbağası (Pelophylax caralitanus)’nda Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ve Ranavirus ile Koenfeksiyon Yaygınlığının Araştırılması

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Ranavirus (Rv) are among the pathogens responsible for the rapid decline of amphibian populations worldwide. The aim of this study is to determine the presence of both pathogens in the endemic Beyşehir frog population living in the Lakes Region in the southwestern Anatolia between 2014-2015 years. Prevalences of each pathogen and co-infections (i.e., presence infection with both of Bd and Rv in same animal) were 48.6 %, 10.3 % and 7.0 % respectively and differences in prevalences were detected among lakes and years. This study is the first report of Rv infection and co-infection with Bd and Rv of endemic Beyşehir frog (Pelophylax caralitanus) in Turkey. Although there are infection by both pathogens, it is unclear that how effective in declining of P.caralitanus population.Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) ve Ranavirus (Rv), dünya çapında amfibi populasyonlarının hızla azalmasından sorumlu patojenler arasındadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, 2014-2015 yılları arasında Güneybatı Anadolu Bölgesi'ndeki Göller Bölgesi'nde yaşayan endemik Beyşehir kurbağa populasyonunda her iki patojenin varlığını saptamaktır. Her bir patojen ve koenfeksiyon varlığı sırasıyla %48,6, % 10,3 ve % 7,0 oranında tespit edildi ve göllerin ve yıllar arasında yaygınlık oranlarında farklılıkları tespit edilmiştir. Bu çalışma, Türkiye'de endemik Beyşehir kurbağası (Pelophylax caralitanus)’nda Bd ve Rv'si ile Rv enfeksiyonu ve ko-enfeksiyonunun ilk rapordur. Her iki patojen tarafından da enfeksiyon olmasına rağmen, P.caralitanus populasyonunun azalmasında ne kadar etkili olduğu tespit edilmemiştir