Impact of heavy metal exposure on biological control of a deadly amphibian pathogen by zooplankton.

Despite devastating effects on global biodiversity, efficient mitigation strategies against amphibian chytridiomycosis are lacking. Since the free-living pathogenic zoospores of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the infective stage of this disease, can serve as a nutritious food source for components of zooplankton communities, these groups may act as biological control agents by eliminating zoospores from the aquatic environment. Such pathogen-predator interaction is, however, embedded in the aquatic food web structure and is therefore affected by abiotic factors interfering with these networks.

Application of Disinfectants for Environmental Control of a Lethal Amphibian Pathogen.

Chytridiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease threatening amphibian populations worldwide. While environmental disinfection is important in mitigating the disease, successful elimination of (Bd) without excessively harming ecosystems is challenging. We selected peracetic acid (PAA) as the most potent of six commercially available products regarding their ability to inhibit growth of a highly virulent Bd strain.