Amphibian populations are declining worldwide and a major
cause is a deadly fungus thought to be spread by bullfrogs, but a two-year
study shows they can also die from this pathogen, contrary to suggestions that
bullfrogs are a tolerant carrier host that just spreads the disease.
When researchers raised the frogs from eggs in controlled
experimental conditions, they found at least one strain of this pathogen,
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, also called Bd or a chytrid fungus, can be
fatal to year-old juveniles. However, bullfrogs were resistant to one other
strain that was tested.