1/24/2024 0 Comments Overwintering auriculasUnderstanding how hosts manage co-infections of either native and/or novel parasites and pathogens is of utmost importance to humans and wildlife given that co-infection is the norm rather than the exception. The rise of emerging infectious diseases poses an additional challenge to species already managing natural parasite and pathogen infections. The results of our study indicated overwintering mortality from Bd could provide an explanation for enigmatic declines and highlights the importance of examining the long-term consequences of novel parasite exposure.Ĭurrent trends show that disease-related wildlife declines are occurring at unprecedented rates and that they are spurred by human modification of landscapes. Bd infection alone, however, resulted in significant mortality during overwintering-an annual occurrence for most temperate amphibians. We found that prior exposure to trematode parasites negatively impacted metamorphosis but did not influence the effect of Bd infection on terrestrial growth and survival. Our study examined how exposure to trematodes during larval development influenced the consequences of Bd pathogen exposure through critical life events. Amphibians are hosts to many parasites and pathogens, including endemic trematode flatworms (e.g., Echinostoma spp.) and the novel pathogenic amphibian chytrid fungus ( Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ). Therefore, understanding the combined effects of infectious agents on hosts is important for species’ conservation and population management. Emerging infectious diseases are increasing globally and are an additional challenge to species dealing with native parasites and pathogens.
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