Emerging disease of amphibians cured by elevated body temperature

Published source details Woodhams D.C., Alford R.A. & Marantelli G. (2003) Emerging disease of amphibians cured by elevated body temperature. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 55, 65-67.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

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	Use temperature treatment to reduce chytridiomycosis infection Action Link

Use temperature treatment to reduce chytridiomycosis infection

A replicated, controlled study in a laboratory at James Cook University, Australia (Woodhams, Alford & Marantelli 2003) found that heat treatment at 37°C cured red-eyed tree frogs Litoria chloris of chytridiomycosis. There was a significant difference in survival between temperature treatments. All infected frogs in the treatment with two eight-hour periods at 37°C tested negative for chytrid after 94 days and survived for at least another five months. Infected frogs at a constant 20°C survived for the shortest period (55 days), while survival was intermediate in the treatments with naturally fluctuating temperatures (14–23°C; 83 days) and two eight-hour periods at 8°C (one frog survived over 94 days). All frogs in these treatments were heavily infected. All but one uninfected frog survived. Eighty juvenile frogs were divided equally into the four temperature regimes. Half in each treatment were infected with chytrid fungus and half with sterile medium as a control. Survival was examined over 94 days and infection level determined at post-mortem.