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Fungus that attacks frogs originated in East Asia: study
News:
- According to a new research published in the journal Science, the chytrid fungus responsible for the decline of amphibian populations around the world may have originated in East Asia.
Important Facts:
- The fungus causes a disease called chytridiomycosis, which attacks the animal’s skin
- In this study, researchers gathered pathogen samples from around the world and compared the genomes. The study revealed that the lineage of this fungus can be traced back to East Asia (Korea)
- Chytrid fungus was first reported in frogs in South America in 1997.
- The fungus has also been recorded in several frog species in Western Ghats. The first record was from Ponmudi Hills of South Kerala in 2011.
- In 2013, chytrid strain specific to Asia was recorded in three endemic and threatened species from Northern Western Ghats
- The study reveals that the range of the disease expanded greatly between 50 and 120 years ago, coinciding with the rapid expansion of global trade
- To ensure the survival of vulnerable species, the researchers highlighted the need to tighten biosecurity across borders, including a potential ban on trade in amphibians as pets
