Abstract
Chytridiomycosis is a bacterial skin disease caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) which has been identified as the main contributor to significant amphibian declines and extinctions globally since its emergence. However, some populations have shown resistance to this disease, and scientists have attributed this resistance to naturally occurring microbes on amphibian skin such as Pseudomonas that can inhibit Bd growth. This study investigates the prevalence of Bd in Kingston, Jamaica, a tropical hotspot that has not been thoroughly assessed for Bd’s effect on its endemic versus invasive frog species. Skin swabs were collected from 33 endemic and invasive species and analyzed for Bd prevalence using qPCR. Of the frogs sampled in this study, only 3 frogs (9.09%) tested positive for Bd, though 2 of them were endemic species found at higher elevations which suggests these species are of utmost conservation importance as increasing global temperatures provide ideal growth factors for Bd. This study also aimed to identified specific Pseudomonas species that inhibit reproduction of Bd using in vitro competitive inhibitory assays that may inform future conservation strategies through the potential bioaugmentation of the frog skin microbiome. TwoPseudomonas strains not previously reported as inhibitory in the literature exhibited inhibitory activity in these assays.
Advisor
Strand, Stephanie
Second Advisor
Lehtinen, Rick
Department
Biology
Recommended Citation
Hoo, Gabby V., "Assessing Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infections in Invasive and Native frog species in Jamaica and the Inhibitory Potential of Pseudomonas Bacteria" (2026). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 13597.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/13597
Disciplines
Zoology
Publication Date
2026
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2026 Gabby V. Hoo