The Investigation of The Presence of Chytridiomycosis in Mertensiella caucasica (Waga, 1876) Populations in Rize and Gümüşhane Provinces

Chytridiomycosis is an infectious disease of amphibians caused by two aquatic fungal pathogens, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). In this study, which aimed to investigate Chytridiomycosis presence on Mertensiella caucasica (Caucasican Salamander) which categorized as being Vulnerable in IUCN red list and its distribution is limited with Georgian and Turkey, Caucasican salamander which is crucial for the Turkish biodiversity tested for positive both for Bd and Bsal for the first time. DNA was extracted from the skins of 20 individuals living in 2 different populations (Rize and Gümüşhane) and then Real-time PCR (quantitative PCR, qPCR) technique was used to determine whether Chytridiomycosis disease infect these organisms or not. The results showed that none of the patients had Chytridiomycosis disease. The fact that there are no signs of the presence of the disease in two different populations of Caucasian salamander could be related to the habitat selectivity of the species. According to the water quality classification, this type of habitat, which is of first quality, ie in potable water quality habitats, tends to be more likely to be at higher altitude locations. Therefore, we think that Caucasian salamanders that live in high altitude habitats where human impact is relatively less may not have been infected with Chytridiomycosis.