Live Bullfrog Trade Implicated in Spread of Amphibian Killing Disease
by Live Science staff
Bullfrogs, often shipped live between continents to be eaten, are spreading the deadly chytrid fungus that is threatening amphibians worldwide, new research indicates.
A team of researchers collected bullfrogs on sale at Asian food stores in seven cities in the United States and found 41 percent of the frogs were infected with the fungus.
The chytrid fungus is harmless to people, but it has caused species declines and even extinctions among amphibians. However, it is not fatal to all amphibians. The fungus doesn’t kill the North American bullfrog, the type of frog sampled in this study, making this species an excellent carrier…
(read more: Live Science) (photo: Julia Tolledo)
