TY - JOUR
T1 - In vitro sensitivity of the amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis to antifungal therapeutics
AU - Woodward, A.
AU - Berger, L.
AU - Skerratt, L. F.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge R. Webb for laboratory assistance, J. Voyles, G. Marantelli and M. West for involvement in collecting isolates, B. Glass, S. Robertson and S. Bell for advice on study design and interpretation and I. Beveridge for his support. Financial support was provided by the Australian Research Council and James Cook University .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Chytridiomycosis, a skin disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has caused amphibian declines worldwide. Amphibians can be treated by percutaneous application of antimicrobials, but knowledge of in vitro susceptibility is lacking. Using a modified broth microdilution method, we describe the in vitro sensitivity of two Australian isolates of B. dendrobatidis to six antimicrobial agents. Growth inhibition was observed, by measurement of optical density, with all agents. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (μg/ml; isolate 1/2) were - voriconazole 0.016/0.008; itraconazole 0.032/0.016; terbinafine 0.063/ 0.063; fluconazole 0.31/0.31; chloramphenicol 12.5/12.5; amphotericin B 12.5/6.25. Killing effects on zoospores were assessed by observing motility. Amphotericin B and terbinafine killed zoospores within 5 and 30 min depending on concentration, but other antimicrobials were not effective at the highest concentrations tested (100 μg/ml). This knowledge will help in drug selection and treatment optimization. As terbinafine was potent and has rapid effects, study of its pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy is recommended.
AB - Chytridiomycosis, a skin disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has caused amphibian declines worldwide. Amphibians can be treated by percutaneous application of antimicrobials, but knowledge of in vitro susceptibility is lacking. Using a modified broth microdilution method, we describe the in vitro sensitivity of two Australian isolates of B. dendrobatidis to six antimicrobial agents. Growth inhibition was observed, by measurement of optical density, with all agents. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (μg/ml; isolate 1/2) were - voriconazole 0.016/0.008; itraconazole 0.032/0.016; terbinafine 0.063/ 0.063; fluconazole 0.31/0.31; chloramphenicol 12.5/12.5; amphotericin B 12.5/6.25. Killing effects on zoospores were assessed by observing motility. Amphotericin B and terbinafine killed zoospores within 5 and 30 min depending on concentration, but other antimicrobials were not effective at the highest concentrations tested (100 μg/ml). This knowledge will help in drug selection and treatment optimization. As terbinafine was potent and has rapid effects, study of its pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy is recommended.
KW - Antifungal testing
KW - Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
KW - Chytridiomycosis
KW - Treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84924956870&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.rvsc.2014.06.013
DO - 10.1016/j.rvsc.2014.06.013
M3 - Article
C2 - 25241392
AN - SCOPUS:84924956870
SN - 0034-5288
VL - 97
SP - 365
EP - 367
JO - Research in Veterinary Science
JF - Research in Veterinary Science
IS - 2
ER -