Defects in host immune function in tree frogs with chronic chytridiomycosis

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 11;9(9):e107284. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107284. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has caused mass mortality leading to population declines and extinctions in many frog species worldwide. The lack of host resistance may be due to fungal immunosuppressive effects that have been observed when Bd is incubated with cultured lymphocytes, but whether in vivo host immunosuppression occurs is unknown. We used a broad range of hematologic and protein electrophoresis biomarkers, along with various functional tests, to assess immune competence in common green (Litoria caerulea) and white-lipped (L. infrafrenata) tree frogs experimentally infected with Bd. Compared with uninfected frogs, Bd infection in L. caerulea caused a reduction in immunoglobulin and splenic lymphocyte responses to antigenic stimulation with sheep red blood cells, along with decreased white blood cell and serum protein concentrations, indicating possible impaired immune response capability of Bd-infected frogs. This is the first in vivo study suggesting that infection with Bd causes multiple defects in systemic host immune function, and this may contribute to disease development in susceptible host species. Although L. infrafrenata failed to maintain Bd infection after exposure, white blood cell and serum globulin concentrations were lower in recovered frogs compared with unexposed frogs, but antigen-specific serum and splenic antibody, and splenic cellular, responses were similar in both recovered and unexposed frogs. This may indicate potential systemic costs associated with infection clearance and/or redirection of host resources towards more effective mechanisms to overcome infection. No clear mechanism for resistance was identified in L. infrafrenata, suggesting that localized and/or innate immune defense mechanisms may be important factors involved in disease resistance in this species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amphibian Proteins / blood
  • Animals
  • Anura / immunology*
  • Anura / microbiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Chytridiomycota / immunology*
  • Globulins / metabolism
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Mycoses / blood
  • Mycoses / immunology
  • Mycoses / veterinary*

Substances

  • Amphibian Proteins
  • Globulins

Grants and funding

Funding was provided by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (grant number 60776, www.environment.gov.au) and the Australian Research Council (grant numbers FT100100375 and LP110200240, www.arc.gov.au). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.