An Epizootic of Mycotic Dermatitis in Cultured Dwarf African Clawed Frogs (Hymenochirus curtipes)
IAAAM 1987
Joseph M. Groff; Albert Mughannam; Terry McDowell; Fredric L. Frye; Ronald P. Hedrick
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA

Morbidity and mortality approaching 100% occurred in Dwarf African Clawed frogs Hymenochirus curtipes from a recirculating water culture facility in central California. Moribund frogs exhibited preference for a terrestrial environment rather than their normal aquatic environment. Affected animals had a slight pallor of the integument but were otherwise grossly nonremarkable. Microscopic examination revealed a fungal infection of the integument primarily characterized by the presence of surface and intraepidermal spores. Skip cultures of the affected animals yielded an organism identified as Basidiobolus meristosperus based on the production of sporangiospores. Electron microscope examination of skin sections from infected animals wan consistent but not conclusive of B. meristosporus. The organism was transmitted to healthy frogs via cohabitation with infected frogs but not by short term immersion exposure of healthy frogs to homogenized culture isolates of the fungus. Benzalkonium chloride at 4 ppm was efficacious in controlling the infection. Although Basidiobolus is normally found in the intestinal tract of amphibians, the severity of this epizootic indicates that B. meristosporus may be an important pathogen of amphibians in culture facilities.

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Joseph M. Groff


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