Growing Tadpole Disease Threatens Earth's Dwindling Frog Population

An unnamed disease caused by a parasitic protist or a single-celled microorganism that invades tadpole livers could threaten global frog populations. Scientists at the University of Exeter recently tested tadpoles from six countries in three continents and found that protists are present in a number of species.

"Global frog populations are suffering serious declines and infectious disease has been shown to be a significant factor," Exeter professor Thomas Richards, in a news release. "Our work has revealed a previously unidentified microbial group that infects tadpole livers in frog populations across the globe."

Researchers found that the disease was present in both tropical and temperate sites, and is a distant relative of oyster parasites, with multiple populations affected. 

Furthermore, they noted how these and other findings further stress growing ecological stress facing frogs, newts, salamanders and other amphibians threatened by climate change, habitat loss and disease. In fact, as of 2008, nearly 32 percent of all frog species have either been classified threatened or extinct.

"We now need to figure out if this novel microbe causes significant disease and could be contributing to the frog population declines," added Exeter, via Reuters. 

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). 

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