First evidence of clavicipitaceous fungus attacking amphibians.

Abstract

Metapochonia bulbillosa (Clavicipitaceae) was identified as the causative agent of a novel mycosis affecting Pelophylax porosus brevipodus, an endangered frog species in Japan. Analyses of spontaneous disease outbreaks and experimental infections confirmed that the fungus can cause lethal infections in both Pelophylax porosus brevipodus and Dryophytes japonicus. This study provides the first evidence that a member of the Clavicipitaceae, a family previously known primarily for plant and insect pathogens, can also cause disease in amphibians.