Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is an aquatic, highly contagious, pathogenic fungus that has been known to infect the intestinal tracts of crayfish and cause mortality. Here, we studied the effects of Bd exposure on crayfish (Procambarus alleni) survival, gill damage and respiration.
Results/Conclusions
Bd exposure resulted in damaged gills with recessed tissue. Gill tissue recession was found to reduce crayfish respiration (X21 = 5.26; p = 0.021) and increased mortality (p < 0.05). Although declining Bd-infected amphibian populations are heavily studied, crayfish are also adversely affected by Bd in aquatic ecosystems. Crayfish mortality due to Bd infection may reduce populations and alter disease risk for other Bd hosts. Additionally, understanding disease dynamics between Bd and crayfish may inform conservation disease models, further strengthening our understanding of this global disease causing pathogen.