What is Chytridiomycosis?

About Chytridiomycosis:

• It is an infectious disease that affects amphibians, especially frogs worldwide.
• It is caused by either of two species of amphibian chytrid fungus. They are called Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. 
• It is an emerging disease that is significantly impacting amphibian populations across the globe.
• The disease has caused the decline or complete extinction of over 200 species of frogs and other amphibians. 
• How chytrid fungus infects the frog?
  • Chytrid fungus is a waterborne fungus that disperses into the environment in order to search for a new host.
  • The fungus travels through water sources until it finds a new host, and enters through the skin.
  • Chytrid infects frogs by reproducing in their skin.
  • The single-celled fungus enters a skin cell, multiplies, and then breaks back out onto the surface of the animal.
  • This damage to the skin affects the frog’s ability to balance water and salt levels and eventually leads to death if infection levels are high enough.

 

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Q1) What is a fungus? 

A fungus (plural: fungi) is a type of eukaryotic organism belonging to the kingdom Fungi, alongside plants, animals, protozoa, and monera. Fungi are incredibly diverse, with commonly encountered forms including yeast, molds, truffles, and mushrooms.

Source: The world’s worst animal disease is killing frogs worldwide