Mucocutaneous fungal disease in tadpoles of Bufo marinus in Australia

Abstract

The occurrence of mucocutaneous fungal infection in tadpoles of B. marinus in 2 separate outbreaks in ponds in north Queensland, Australia is reported. The first outbreak occurred in 1989, while the second in September 1995. Hyphal fungi grew in tuffs attached to the nostrils, mouthparts, skin of the head, and also occasionally on the hind legs and tails. Several fungi were isolated, with Aphanomyces sp. a likely pathogen.
Starvation was likely because the infection primarily attacked the mouth, and could have prevented the tadpoles from eating. Infected tadpoles were less mature than healthy ones, suggesting that this was a disease of young tadpoles or the disease may have slowed their development.