Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.S.
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
Degree Granting Department
Biology (Integrative Biology)
Major Professor
David Lewis, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Alison Gainsbury, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Justin Perrault, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jeremiah Doody, Ph.D.
Keywords
Southern Leopard Frog, Hepatozoon, Trypanosoma, Epidemiology, Frog Virus 3
Abstract
Urbanization poses significant challenges to wildlife, including amphibians. The present study uses a multi-parameter approach that incorporates veterinary techniques to investigate the current health status of the adult southern leopard frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus) in Tampa Bay, Florida, amidst urban stressors including nutrient loading, fragmented habitats, and light and noise pollution. Novel values for fluctuating asymmetry (e.g., variation between left and right bilateral traits; FA), body condition (CF), stress (e.g., neutrophil:lymphocyte (N:L) ratio), and inflammation (e.g., neutrophil morphologic abnormalities, parasite load) are reported. I also investigate the relationship of overall health with ranavirus presence and hemoparasite infections. Ranavirus was absent in all samples, suggesting that the disease has little presence in the areas that were investigated. In contrast, Trypanosoma and Coccidia diversity was present in 12 (60%) and 7 (35%) of livers, with possibly two novel Hepatozoon species discovered. Hemoparasite infection did not correlate with increased morphological abnormalities (e.g., increased FA, decreased CF), increased stress (e.g., N:L), or increased inflammation (e.g., increased neutrophil morphologic abnormalities, parasitic load). No evidence of neutrophil morphologic abnormalities was observed and there were no statistically significant relationships between any health metrics and frogs with or without pathogen infections. This study provides reference health data on L. sphenocephalus morphology, stress, and inflammation in urban wetlands. These results showcase the need for further amphibian health studies to gather more reference data that may aid in future conservation and management plans for native amphibian species.
Scholar Commons Citation
Wickersham, Gabrielle M., "Health status in an Urban-dwelling, Subtropical Frog Species (Lithobates sphenocephalus) and its Relation to Ranavirus and Hemoparasites" (2024). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10834
