Midges not only sucks, but may carry lethal pathogens to wild amphibians

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Abstract
The chytrid fungus (Bd) is one of the main causes of recent amphibian population declines and extinctions. However, one possible disease transmission pathway remained unexplored: the insect‐borne transport between hosts. We found Bd DNA on specialized blood‐sucking midges, which could indicate the transport of alive zoospores between amphibian hosts, in this case acting as Bd carriers in the wild.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Funding Information
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Finance Code 001)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (#2006/58011‐4, #2016/25358‐3 : #2017/01917‐6, #2010/50146‐3)
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (#307544/2006‐0, #306961/2015‐6, #300896/2016‐6, #405285/2013‐2, #301128/2009‐0)

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