Abstract
Chytridiomycosis, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), threatens amphibian biodiversity worldwide. While Bd is widespread in Europe, its local epidemiology remains poorly understood. We conducted a five-year survey (2019–2023) of 3,253 amphibians from 14 species across 41 sites in Catalonia, Northeastern Spain, to assess chytrid occurrence and environmental drivers. Using duplex qPCR, Bd was detected in 141 individuals (4.3%) from seven species, while Bsal was absent. Infections were geographically widespread but varied among species: Alytes obstetricans larvae showed the highest prevalence (26.6%), indicating a potential reservoir role, and Hyla meridionalis also exhibited high prevalence (14.3%) and infection loads, suggesting Bd tolerance. Other species, including urodeles and some alpine taxa, showed low or no infection. Although no overt disease was observed, chytridiomycosis-related mortality was suspected in A. obstetricans. Binomial GLMMs identified anthropogenic disturbance and maximum summer temperature as significant predictors of Bd occurrence. The apparent endemicity of Bd and absence of Bsal reinforce the need for continued surveillance, an improved understanding of host roles in disease dynamics, and integration of key environmental drivers to inform mitigation measures and preserve amphibian biodiversity.
Acknowledgements
We thank the residents and interns of WildCoM for their support in field and laboratory work: Lourdes Lobato, Carlotta Pasetto, Andrea Dias, Irene Torres, Carme Riutort, Josep Estruch, Pol Sarquella, Lucía Illera, Ignacio Abadía, Núria Cases, Paula Alonso-Almorox, Marc Ramon, Axelle Lacombe, Angela Loring, Rita Quintela, Ane López, Paula Escaño, Simon Krückemeier, Sara Grau, Carmen-Laura Garreta and Caroline Berger. We are also grateful to Albert Martínez-Silvestre for his assistance in selecting study sites and developing field protocols.
Funding
MPR was funded by the 2021 FI Scholarship, Departament de Recerca i Universitats, Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain (FI_B 00171). XFA acknowledges support under a Ramón y Cajal contract (RYC2022‑036927‑I), funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities). This work has been supported by Barcelona Zoo Foundation (2019 and 2020 scholarships) and Alt Pirineu Natural Park (Salvador Grau i Tort 2022 scholarship).
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Ribas, M.P., Aguilar, X.F., Espunyes, J. et al. Human disturbance and higher temperatures are linked to amphibian chytrid fungus in Catalonia, Northeastern Spain.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-45967-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-45967-3
Source: Ecology - nature.com
