Efficacy of prophylaxis dose and duration on host defense against the deadly chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Data files
Oct 09, 2024 version files 11.86 KB
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3x3_JAPPL-2024-00099.csv
2.44 KB
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3x3_Mortality_JAPPL-2024-00099.csv
1.95 KB
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5x5_JAPPL-2024-00099.csv
4.74 KB
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README.md
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Abstract
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), an aquatic pathogenic fungus, is responsible for the decline of hundreds of amphibian species worldwide and negatively impacts biodiversity globally. Prophylactic exposure to the metabolites produced by Bd can provide protection for naïve tree frogs and reduce subsequent Bd infection intensity.
Here, we used a response surface design crossing Bd metabolite prophylaxis concentration and exposure duration to determine how these factors modulate prophylactic protection against Bd in Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) tadpoles (5x5 surface design) and metamorphs (3x3 surface design). We exposed individuals every weekday to one of five Bd metabolite concentrations or a water control for one to five weeks, after which all animals were challenged with live Bd to evaluate their susceptibility.
Exposure to the Bd metabolite prophylaxis reduced Bd load and prevalence compared to the control for both the tadpoles and metamorphs. Increasing Bd metabolite prophylaxis concentration did not confer additional protection for either life stage, but increasing duration of exposure did benefit metamorphs by decreasing Bd prevalence but not Bd load. On average, control tadpoles and metamorphs had 66.2% and 99.4% higher Bd loads, respectively, than tadpoles and metamorphs exposed to any Bd metabolite prophylaxis. Additionally, Bd metabolite prophylaxis reduced Bd prevalence relative to controls in both tadpoles (20.5 vs 56.3%, respectively) and metamorphs (21.9 vs 87.5%, respectively).
The efficacy of short-term exposures of relatively low concentrations of Bd metabolites at reducing Bd infections suggests that this approach has the potential to be scaled up to field use to aid in disease mitigation and conservation. Our results, combined with additional research on Bd metabolite prophylaxis for other amphibian species, suggest that this strategy may represent a broadly useful tool to protect at-risk amphibian populations.
Description of the data and file structure
3x3_JAPPL-2024-00099.csv
This data sheet is associated with the Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) metamorphs (3x3 surface design) experiment. The sheet shows: first column = frog identification number, vaccinated = exposed to Bd metabolite prophylaxis (vaccinated) or exposed to an artificial spring water control (Controls), conc = concentration of the Bd metabolite treatment exposure (Bd metabolites zoospores removed/ml), log.conc = log10 of the Bd metabolite treatment exposure (Bd metabolites zoospores removed/ml), duration = duration of exposure in weeks to the Bd metabolite treatment (controls coded as 0 week duration), mass = final mass in g, Bd = total quantity of Bd in each sample (genome equivalents), and prevalence = 1 = Bd was present in the sample and 0 = Bd was not present
3x3_Mortality__JAPPL-2024-00099.csv
This data sheet is associated with the Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) metamorphs (3x3 surface design) experiment. The sheet shows: frog= frog identification number, conc = concentration of the Bd metabolite treatment exposure (Bd metabolites zoospores removed/ml), log.conc = log10 of the Bd metabolite treatment exposure (Bd metabolites zoospores removed/ml), duration = duration of exposure in weeks to the Bd metabolite treatment (controls coded as 5 week duration), status = 1 animal died, 0 animal did not die, death = experimental day of death (or end of experiment = day 46)
5x5__JAPPL-2024-00099.csv
This data sheet is associated with the Pacific chorus frog (Pseudacris regilla) tadpoles (5x5 surface design) experiment. The sheet shows: tadpole = tadpole identification number, conc = concentration of the Bd metabolite treatment exposure (Bd metabolites zoospores removed/ml), log.conc = log10 of the Bd metabolite treatment exposure (Bd metabolites zoospores removed/ml), vaccinated = exposed to Bd metabolite prophylaxis (vaccinated) or exposed to an artificial spring water control (Controls), duration = duration of exposure in weeks to the Bd metabolite treatment (controls coded as 5 week duration), duration2 = duration of exposure in weeks to the Bd metabolite treatment (controls coded as 0 week duration), total.Bd.GE = total quantity of Bd in each sample (genome equivalents), prevalence = 1 = Bd was present in the sample and 0 = Bd was not present, death.status = 1 tadpole died, 0 tadpole did not die, death.day = experimental day of death (or end of experiment = day 50), Gosner stage = developmental Gosner stage of tadpole, Mass = final mass in g.