How to translate text using browser tools
1 January 2018 GREEN TREE FROG (HYLA CINEREA) AND GROUND SQUIRREL (XEROSPERMOPHILUS SPILOSOMA) MORTALITY ATTRIBUTED TO INLAND BREVETOXIN TRANSPORT AT PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE, TEXAS, USA, 2015
Danielle E. Buttke, Alicia Walker, I-Shuo Huang, Leanne Flewelling, Julia Lankton, Anne E. Ballmann, Travis Clapp, James Lindsay, Paul V. Zimba
Author Affiliations +
Abstract
: 

On 16 September 2015, a red tide (Karenia brevis) bloom impacted coastal areas of Padre Island National Seashore Park, Texas, US. Two days later and about 0.9 km inland, 30–40 adult green tree frogs (Hyla cinerea) were found dead after displaying tremors, weakness, labored breathing, and other signs of neurologic impairment. A rainstorm accompanied by high winds, rough surf, and high tides, which could have aerosolized brevetoxin, occurred on the morning of the mortality event. Frog carcasses were in good body condition but contained significant brevetoxin in tissues. Tissue brevetoxin was also found in two dead or dying spotted ground squirrels (Xerospermophilus spilosoma) and a coyote (Canis latrans) found in the area. Rainwater collected from the location of the mortality event contained brevetoxin. Green tree frog and ground squirrel mortality has not been previously attributed to brevetoxin exposure and such mortality suggested that inland toxin transport, possibly through aerosols, rainfall, or insects, may have important implications for coastal species.

© Wildlife Disease Association 2018
Danielle E. Buttke, Alicia Walker, I-Shuo Huang, Leanne Flewelling, Julia Lankton, Anne E. Ballmann, Travis Clapp, James Lindsay, and Paul V. Zimba "GREEN TREE FROG (HYLA CINEREA) AND GROUND SQUIRREL (XEROSPERMOPHILUS SPILOSOMA) MORTALITY ATTRIBUTED TO INLAND BREVETOXIN TRANSPORT AT PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE, TEXAS, USA, 2015," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 54(1), 142-146, (1 January 2018). https://doi.org/10.7589/2017-01-018
Received: 27 January 2017; Accepted: 5 July 2017; Published: 1 January 2018
KEYWORDS
Brevetoxin
green tree frogs
Harmful Algal Bloom
toxin transport
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top