The impact of metamorphic restructuring on the immune capacity of Fleay's Barred Frog (Mixophyes fleayi) following infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

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McCallum, Hamish

Grogan, Laura F

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Lanctot, Chantal

Newell, David

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2024-09-26
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Abstract

The fungal disease chytridiomycosis (caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis [Bd]) is a primary contributor to amphibian declines globally. Bd susceptibility varies between species, with some decimated while others seem able to resist clinical infections. The complexity of amphibian life history may contribute to infection outcomes, with the metamorphic and early post-metamorphic stages of development (characterised by extensive morphological and immunological reorganisation) showing heightened vulnerability to stressors such as Bd. However, my comprehensive review of the current research available on metamorphic immune reorganisation and associated host susceptibility (Chapter 2) revealed that comparatively few studies had investigated host immunological responses and Bd infection dynamics during the critical metamorphic stages. This represents an important research gap with possible implications for infection dynamics and amphibian population persistence. [...]

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Thesis (PhD Doctorate)

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Doctor of Philosophy

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School of Environment and Sc

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The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.

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Subject

amphibian

chytridiomycosis

metamorphosis

immunological response

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