FrogLog 103 PDF here - Amphibian Specialist Group

y Bd does not appear to negatively affect
body condition or growth rate of postmetamorphic
individuals. We found no
evidence of infection in surveys of wild H.
cinerea. Our results suggest that H. cinerea
is not susceptible to chytridiomycosis postmetamorphosis
and probably is not an
important carrier of the fungal pathogen Bd
in the southeastern United States, although
susceptibility at the larval stage remains
unknown.
L. A. Brannelly, M. W. H. Chatfield, C. L.
Richards-Zawacki. PLoS ONE 7, e38473.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038473 (2012).
First records of limb malformations
in wild populations of the
Endangered Balearic midwife toad,
Alytes muletensis
By Samuel Pinya, Valentín Pérez Mellado &
Juan José Suárez Fernández
Limb deformities and developmental
abnormalities in natural populations
of amphibians have been reported for
decades but few reports involve deformities
in rare and endangered amphibians. The
Balearic midwife toad, Alytes muletensis
(Sanchíz and Adrover 1977), is an endemic
and threatened species of the Northeast
Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain)
which has been the focus of a number of
studies and conservation efforts. While
the early detection and identification of
the proximate causes of malformations
is an important issue in managing an
endangered species, no malformations
have previously been reported for A.
muletensis. During the period 2005 to
2011, in a single locality five different types
of malformations were detected: polymelia,
micromelia, brachydactyly, syndactyly
and bone projection. Although there have
been no previous reports of malformations
in A. muletensis, the observations do not
reveal any obvious cause. In the paper
it is discussed the proximal causes of
malformations as presence of Ribeiroia
sp. and other parasites, or a synergistical
effect of B. dendrobatidis together with
pathogens of the genus Ribeiroia
S. Pinya, V. Pérez-Mellado, J. J. Suárez-
Fernández. Herp. Rev. 43, 240 (2012).
Behavioral, morphological
deformities and biomarkers of
oxidative damage as indicators of
sublethal cypermethrin intoxication
on the tadpoles of D. melanostictus
(Schneider, 1799)
By Muniswamy David, Shambanagouda R.
Marigoudar, Vineetkumar K. Patil & Ramesh
Halappa
Concerns have been raised that
the amphibian larval stages are
particularly at risk and may be vulnerable
to adverse effects of pesticides. The
present study reports acute toxicity of
cypermethrin at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h
through static renewal bioassay test for
Duttaphrynus melanostictus. The LC50
values were 5.15, 4.55, 3.95, and 3.34
µg/L for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h respectively.
An amplex of Duttaphrynus melanostictus and tadpole. Photo: M. David et. al.
At sublethal concentration (0.33 µg/L)
behavioral, morphological and biochemical
changes were studied. The behavioral
and morphological anomalies observed
in the present study are typical signs of
cyanopyrethroid poisoning. Significant
changes were observed in total, soluble
and structural proteins. The depletion of
all the protein fractions observed in this
investigation led to progressive protein
oxidation and catabolism of proteins.
Decreased protein level has resulted in a
marked elevation of free amino acid levels at
all time intervals. The induction of catalase,
glutathione-S-transferase activities and
elevation in the levels of hydrogen peroxide,
reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde
eventually lead to oxidative damage of
biomolecules, showing that the generation
of reactive oxygen species and oxidative
stress are involved in the toxicity induced
by cypermethrin. Indicating increased
susceptibility of tadpoles. Thus, an exposure
to cypermethrin at sublethal concentration
had catastrophic effect on tadpoles of D.
melanostictus.
M. David, S.R. Marigoudar, V.K. Patil, H.
Ramesh, Pest. Biochem. Physiol. 103, 127
(2012).
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48 | FrogLog 20 (4) | Issue number 103 (July 2012)
Robin Moore / iLCP