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Ker je hitridiomikoza prepoznana kot glavni vzrok upadanja števila vrst dvoživk in izgube biotske raznovrstnosti na lokalni ter globalni ravni, smo za dopolnitev obstoječih podatkov o pojavnosti hitridnih gliv v Evropi izvedli prvo usmerjeno raziskavo o prisotnosti hitridnih gliv v Sloveniji. Analizirali smo 110 brisov kože 21 različnih domorodnih in tujerodnih vrst dvoživk. Vzorce smo zbrali na 50 različnih lokacijah po celotni Sloveniji in treh lokacijah živali v ujetništvu. Izolacija DNA in standardizirana qPCR diagnostika je bila opravljena na Oddelku za biologijo Biotehniške fakultete Univerze v Ljubljani. Potrdili smo prvo okužbo z Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis v naravnem okolju v Sloveniji. Čeprav so potrebne nadaljnje raziskave za določitev izvora, razširjenosti in možnega vpliva patogena na populacije dvoživk v Sloveniji, menimo, da bo prvi podatek o prisotnosti omenjenega patogena pomembno prispeval k vzpostavitvi ohranitvenih ukrepov za zaščito dvoživk pred omenjenimi patogeni v Sloveniji. In the past decade chytridiomycosis has been recognized as a major cause of amphibian decline and biodiversity loss at local and global level. To complement the data on the current range of chytrid fungi in Europe, we conducted the first comprehensive survey on the presence of these emerging pathogens in Slovenia. We collected skin swabs samples from 110 specimens of 21 native and introduced amphibian species. Samples were obtained at 50 locations in nature and three captive locations in Slovenia. DNA isolation and standardized qPCR-based diagnostics of potential presence of chytrid fungi in samples was conducted at the Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana. The results confirmed the first occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in wild amphibian populations in Slovenia. Although further studies are needed to determine the origin, distribution and possible impact of the pathogen on amphibian populations in Slovenia, we believe that the first record of this fungal pathogen will help to initiate appropriate and much-needed conservation measures of amphibians in the country. |
