Population declines and extinctions of several amphibian species in many parts of the world are associated with a fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid fungus). Over the past six years, the presence of chytrid fungus has been documented in many countries in Asia, however, there have been no reports of mass die-offs or enigmatic population declines typically associated with chytrid fungus in Southeast Asia.  We investigated the possible presence of the chytrid fungus in amphibians from relatively undisturbed evergreen and hill evergreen forest by using conventional PCR. Fifty individuals of ten species of native amphibians belonging to seven genera and four families were skin swabbed. Individuals were sampled at elevations ranging from 550 to 1150 msl in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. All species sampled tested negative for B. dendrobatidis, which is consistent with several studies that indicate very low rates of infection currently in the region. However, in light of new evidence suggesting that B. dendrobatidis is also endemic to Asia we are now following up with a potentially more sensitive protocol based on qPCR. Our research also highlights the need for further comprehensive follow-up studies as to why infection rates remain low relative to other biogeographic regions.

Keywords: amphibian conservation, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, conventional PCR, Thailand