Sauna baths to rescue frogs from deadly fungus

Endangered frogs can take a sauna in winter-chilled Australia. What they don't know is that it can also save their lives, according to researchers.

» Updated: October 06 2024

» Published: September 01 2024

Sauna baths to rescue frogs from deadly fungus
Photo: Anthony Waddle/TT

The "sauna" is built of hollow bricks and heated by the sun. But when the green tree frogs, of the species Litoria aurea, crawl in, they are unaware that the "spa treatment" is not only pleasant - it can also protect against a fungal disease that is ravaging amphibian life globally.

Chytridiomycosis, often called chytrid, is a waterborne disease that burrows into the frogs' skin and attacks their bodies. It has led to global mass death, sometimes called an "amphibian apocalypse", among frogs, toads, and salamanders.

500 species of amphibians have declined in number and 90 have been wiped out by the fungus's advance, according to Anthony Waddle, biologist at Macquarie University in Australia.

Chytrid is the worst pathogen ever, he says to news agency AFP.

Living in boxes

Previously, the solution to protect endangered frogs was to catch them to treat them, according to Waddle.

Nothing has ever caused so much destruction. In Australia, we have frogs that only live in glass boxes now. This is a big, ongoing problem.

Waddle has led a research group that experimented with the sauna solution, where it turned out that the frogs chose to crawl into the heat if they got the chance. But it also helped against chytrid, according to the study published in Nature. In the heat, the fungus could not grow on the frogs, which allowed the animals to fight off the infection.

Over 40 percent of the world's amphibian species are threatened with extinction, making them one of the most vulnerable groups among vertebrate animals. Major concerns are loss of habitats, climate change, and chytrid.

Other attempts

Heat treatments have been tested on other species, but without any evidence that it worked, according to Andrew Cunningham, professor at the Institute of Zoology in London, who first identified the fungal disease. They have tested increased sun exposure in the frogs' natural habitat as well as artificial warming of ponds.

We have continued to have deadly outbreaks of chytridiomycosis, and the only way to stop these has been to treat the frogs with antifungal medication, he has said to The Guardian.

Maybe the technique is species-specific, but unfortunately, I doubt that it is a universal solution to the global threat from chytridiomycosis among amphibians.

Waddle believes that his sauna is a creative solution to a serious problem - but emphasizes that more measures are needed if frog populations are to survive.

No solution will work for all. Frogs are so different.

Chytridiomycosis is caused by the fungal organism Batrachochytrium, also called chytrid fungus. It causes widespread disease and death among amphibians worldwide. In Sweden, the disease has been detected since 2010 in wild amphibians, and the spread of the infection is occurring across the country.

Chytrid is considered a crucial, sometimes decisive, factor in the decline and even extinction of many amphibians, especially in more tropical regions.

The fungus attaches itself to the amphibians' outer skin layer and causes a thickening of the outer skin, or skin ulcers. Disruptions in salt balance and oxygen uptake through the skin can then lead to death.

The fungus does not thrive in water temperatures higher than around 25 degrees.

Source: The National Veterinary Institute

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Man in His 50s Killed
1 MIN READ

Man in His 50s Killed by Falling Beam in Mölndal Workplace Accident

Swedish Teen Found Guilty of
1 MIN READ

Swedish Teen Found Guilty of Attempted Murder in Copenhagen

Sweden Considers Deportation for Misconduct
2 MIN READ

Sweden Considers Deportation for Misconduct Under New Proposal

Man Arrested in Norrköping Murder
1 MIN READ

Man Arrested in Norrköping Murder Investigation

Death in Fjärås Ruled Non-Criminal
1 MIN READ

Death in Fjärås Ruled Non-Criminal After Investigation

Supreme Court Upholds PFAS Ruling
1 MIN READ

Supreme Court Upholds PFAS Ruling Against Swedish Defence Forces

Swedish Man Charged in Copenhagen
1 MIN READ

Swedish Man Charged in Copenhagen Murder Disguised as Courier

Gender Gap in Sick Leave:
3 MIN READ

Gender Gap in Sick Leave: Women Face Double Workload Challenges

Sweden's April Fools' Day: Moose
2 MIN READ

Sweden's April Fools' Day: Moose Cavalry and TV Host Swap

Sweden Ends Spruce Bark Beetle
2 MIN READ

Sweden Ends Spruce Bark Beetle Control as Threat Diminishes

Drought Shifts Earth's Axis and
3 MIN READ

Drought Shifts Earth's Axis and Raises Sea Levels, Study Finds

Örebro Doctor Sentenced to 7
1 MIN READ

Örebro Doctor Sentenced to 7 Years for Sexual Assaults on Patients

Swedish Journalist's Detention in Turkey
1 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist's Detention in Turkey Raises Legal Concerns

Woman Hospitalized After Villa Fire
1 MIN READ

Woman Hospitalized After Villa Fire Near Älvsbyn

Sölvesborg Man in Custody for
1 MIN READ

Sölvesborg Man in Custody for Alleged Online Child Sex Crimes

Report Highlights High Rates of
1 MIN READ

Report Highlights High Rates of Relationship Violence Among Young Girls

Hedgehogs Reveal High Lead and
1 MIN READ

Hedgehogs Reveal High Lead and Pollutant Levels in Swedish Study

Skåne Region Ends Krys Contract,
1 MIN READ

Skåne Region Ends Krys Contract, Seeks 19 Million Kronor Refund

Summer House Buyers Urged to
3 MIN READ

Summer House Buyers Urged to Consider Climate Risks in Sweden

Truck Collision in Sweden Sparks
1 MIN READ

Truck Collision in Sweden Sparks Drunk Driving Investigation

Kristersson Praises Brandberg's Efforts on
1 MIN READ

Kristersson Praises Brandberg's Efforts on Gender Equality and Safety

Key Leaders Exit as The
2 MIN READ

Key Leaders Exit as The Liberals Face Leadership Changes

Paulina Brandberg Steps Down as
3 MIN READ

Paulina Brandberg Steps Down as Minister to Prioritize Family Life

Virtual Reality Offers New Hope
5 MIN READ

Virtual Reality Offers New Hope for Phantom Pain Relief

Sweden Delays Joining Global Ocean
2 MIN READ

Sweden Delays Joining Global Ocean Protection Treaty

Sweden Allocates 71 Million Kronor
2 MIN READ

Sweden Allocates 71 Million Kronor to Support Helicopter Rescue Services

Social Democrats Propose State Investment
1 MIN READ

Social Democrats Propose State Investment Bank to Boost Growth

Green Party Proposes Emissions Trading
2 MIN READ

Green Party Proposes Emissions Trading to Replace Reduction Obligation

Västra Götaland Director Steps Down
1 MIN READ

Västra Götaland Director Steps Down After Journal System Setback

Sweden Unveils Largest Military Aid
2 MIN READ

Sweden Unveils Largest Military Aid Package to Ukraine

Sweden Boosts Workplace Inspections to
2 MIN READ

Sweden Boosts Workplace Inspections to Combat Rising Crime

Man Faces Charges for Online
1 MIN READ

Man Faces Charges for Online Child Sexual Offenses in Sweden

Man Sentenced to Psychiatric Care
3 MIN READ

Man Sentenced to Psychiatric Care for Ica Maxi Employee Murder

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After
2 MIN READ

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After Arrest in Turkey

Rise in Children Contacting Bris
1 MIN READ

Rise in Children Contacting Bris About Eating Disorders Concerns Experts

Sweden Sees Lowest Deadly Violence
2 MIN READ

Sweden Sees Lowest Deadly Violence Cases in a Decade

New Tool Empowers Parents to
1 MIN READ

New Tool Empowers Parents to Combat Online Grooming Risks

Elderly Man's Death in Ale
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man's Death in Ale Sparks Murder Investigation

Prince Carl Philip's Secret Alias
1 MIN READ

Prince Carl Philip's Secret Alias Exposed in Sportadmin Data Breach

Child Abuse Images Discovered on
1 MIN READ

Child Abuse Images Discovered on Computer at Swedish Repair Shop