Dataset Information

Outbreaks of an Emerging Viral Disease Covary With Differences in the Composition of the Skin Microbiome of a Wild United Kingdom Amphibian.

ABSTRACT: There is growing appreciation of the important role of commensal microbes in ensuring the normal function and health of their hosts, including determining how hosts respond to pathogens. A range of infectious diseases are threatening amphibians worldwide, and evidence is accumulating that the host-associated bacteria that comprise the microbiome may be key in mediating interactions between amphibian hosts and infectious pathogens. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to quantify the skin microbial community structure of over 200 individual wild adult European common frogs (Rana temporaria), from ten populations with contrasting history of the lethal disease ranavirosis, caused by emerging viral pathogens belonging to the genus Ranavirus. All populations had similar species richness irrespective of disease history, but populations that have experienced historical outbreaks of ranavirosis have a distinct skin microbiome structure (beta diversity) when compared to sites where no outbreaks of the disease have occurred. At the individual level, neither age, body length, nor sex of the frog could predict the structure of the skin microbiota. Our data potentially support the hypothesis that variation among individuals in skin microbiome structure drive differences in susceptibility to infection and lethal outbreaks of disease. More generally, our results suggest that population-level processes are more important for driving differences in microbiome structure than variation among individuals within populations in key life history traits such as age and body size.

SUBMITTER: Campbell LJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6597677 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Outbreaks of an Emerging Viral Disease Covary With Differences in the Composition of the Skin Microbiome of a Wild United Kingdom Amphibian.

Campbell Lewis J LJ Garner Trenton W J TWJ Hopkins Kevin K Griffiths Amber G F AGF Harrison Xavier A XA

Frontiers in microbiology 20190621

There is growing appreciation of the important role of commensal microbes in ensuring the normal function and health of their hosts, including determining how hosts respond to pathogens. A range of infectious diseases are threatening amphibians worldwide, and evidence is accumulating that the host-associated bacteria that comprise the microbiome may be key in mediating interactions between amphibian hosts and infectious pathogens. We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to quantify the skin microbi ...[more]

PMID: 31281291

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Project description:Worldwide, arthropod-borne disease transmission represents one of the greatest threats to public and animal health. For the British Isles, an island group on the north-western coast of continental Europe consisting of the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Ireland, physical separation offers a barrier to the introduction of many of the pathogens that affect animals on the rest of the continent. Added to this are strict biosecurity rules at ports of entry and the depauperate vector biodiversity found on the islands. Nevertheless, there are some indigenous arthropod-borne pathogens that cause sporadic outbreaks, such as the tick-borne louping ill virus, found almost exclusively in the British Isles, and a range of piroplasmid infections that are poorly characterized. These provide an ongoing source of infection whose emergence can be unpredictable. In addition, the risk remains for future introductions of both exotic vectors and the pathogens they harbor, and can transmit. Current factors that are driving the increases of both disease transmission and the risk of emergence include marked changes to the climate in the British Isles that have increased summer and winter temperatures, and extended the period over which arthropods are active. There have also been dramatic increases in the distribution of mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile and Usutu viruses in mainland Europe that are making the introduction of these pathogens through bird migration increasingly feasible. In addition, the establishment of midge-borne bluetongue virus in the near continent has increased the risk of wind-borne introduction of infected midges and the inadvertent importation of infected cattle. Arguably the greatest risk is associated with the continual increase in the movement of people, pets and trade into the UK. This, in particular, is driving the introduction of invasive arthropod species that either bring disease-causing pathogens, or are known competent vectors, that increase the risk of disease transmission if introduced. The following review documents the current pathogen threats to animals transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks and midges. This includes both indigenous and exotic pathogens to the UK. In the case of exotic pathogens, the pathway and risk of introduction are also discussed.

Dataset Information

Outbreaks of an Emerging Viral Disease Covary With Differences in the Composition of the Skin Microbiome of a Wild United Kingdom Amphibian.

Publications

Outbreaks of an Emerging Viral Disease Covary With Differences in the Composition of the Skin Microbiome of a Wild United Kingdom Amphibian.

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