Treatment of chytridiomycosis with reduced-dose itraconazole

Published source details Jones M.E.B., Paddock D., Bender L., Allen J.L., Schrenzel M.S. & Pessie A.P. (2012) Treatment of chytridiomycosis with reduced-dose itraconazole. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 99, 243-249.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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	Use antifungal treatment to reduce chytridiomycosis infection Action Link

Use antifungal treatment to reduce chytridiomycosis infection

A replicated study in 2009 of captive amphibians in the USA (Jones et al. 2012) found that reduced-dose itraconazole was an effective treatment for natural infections of chytridiomycosis in Wyoming toads Anaxyrus baxteri, White’s tree frogs Litoria caerulea and African bullfrogs Pyxicephalus adspersus. Although 15 infected toads and one tree frog died during treatment, all animals surviving at the end of treatment tested negative for chytrid for five or 13 months. Before treatment, 70% of Wyoming toads, 45% of tree frogs and both bullfrogs tested positive for chytridiomycosis. Eighty Wyoming toads were bathed for 5 minutes with itraconazole at 100 mg/L for three days, 5 mg/L for six days and then 50 mg/lLon the last day. Eleven tree frogs and two African bullfrogs were treated daily with itraconazole at 50 mg/L for 5 minutes over 10 days. Toads were tested for chytrid monthly for five months after treatment and frogs every two weeks for two months and once at 13 months. Animals were not rinsed following baths.