{"topic_id":"evidence_exotic_amphibian_clinical","category":"evidence","context":"---\ntopic_id: evidence_exotic_amphibian_clinical\ncategory: evidence\ntitle: \"Evidence cluster — Pet amphibian (anuran) clinical cases (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)\"\nlang: en\nsource: \"Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search, first-hand peer-reviewed abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01\"\nsource_file: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_amphibian_clinical_2026-08-01.txt\ndate_parsed: 2026-08-01\ntokens_estimated: 4712\nverification:\n  method: substring_match\n  claims: 12\n  passed: 12\n  date: 2026-08-01\nsource_document: \"Peer-reviewed Pet amphibian clinical-case literature (Europe PMC, first-hand abstracts)\"\ncitation:\n  authority: \"Europe PMC\"\n  title: \"Evidence cluster — Pet amphibian (anuran) clinical cases (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)\"\n  url: \"https://www.ebi.ac.uk/europepmc/\"\n  retrieved: \"2026-08-01\"\n  doc_type: \"first-hand abstracts (Europe PMC REST)\"\n  needs_review: false\n---\n\n# Evidence: Pet amphibian (anuran) clinical cases\n\nSource: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01.\nQueries covered clinical case reports and case series for anuran.\nThe cluster returns **12** representative clinical cases with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each case is traceable by PMID.\n\n## Studies\n- **PMID 42117820 (2026, Biology)** — Leech Diversity in the Maghreb (North Africa): A Checklist and a Case Report of Parasitism on a Berber Toad (&lt;i&gt;Sclerophys mauritanica&lt;/i&gt;) in Algeria.. Abstract (opening): Leeches (Hirudinea) are ecologically important annelids that interact with a wide range of aquatic vertebrates, yet their diversity, distribution, and epidemiological relevance remain poorly documented in North Africa. Here, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of freshwater and marine leech species reported from the Maghreb (Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco), based on an extensive review of the available literature. In total, 21 species belonging to 13 genera and four families (Glossiphoniidae, Erpobdellidae, Hirudinidae, and Piscicolidae) are documented, with updated information on their ecology, host associations, and geographic distribution. In addition to this regional checklist, we report the first confirmed case of <i>Batracobdella algira</i> heavy parasitism on the Berber toad (<i>Sclerophrys mauritanica</i>) in Algeria. A single adult toad was found heavily infested by multiple leeches (<i>n</i> = 17), some of which bore spermatophores attached near the reproductive opercula, suggesting possible in situ mating behavior on the host. The high infestation observed in this single specimen may constitute an outlier, requiring further sampling to assess the effect of leeches on the anuran population in the region. By integrating faunistic data with a novel field observation, this study highlights the overlooked leech biodiversity in the Maghreb and suggests their possible ecological and epidemiological significance. Our findings emphasize the need for further investigations into leech-host interactions, pathogen carriage, and their implications for amphibian conservation and One Health in North Africa.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42117820/\n- **PMID 41602913 (2026, iScience)** — Evolutionary constraints on anuran melanin for 45 million years.. Abstract (opening): Fossil evidence of melanin is a remarkable palaeobiological resource, but the evolution of melanin through deep time is poorly resolved, partly because few studies have integrated data from fossils and their extant relatives. Here, we use data on melanin-rich organelles - melanosomes - in extant and fossil anurans to show that the evolution of melanin in the skin during the last 45 million years is decoupled from that in the eyes and internal tissues. Skin melanosomes differ in geometry (i.e., length, width, and aspect ratio) between extant and fossil species. In contrast, melanosomes from the eyes and internal tissues show strongly conserved geometries in all fossil and extant species. These tissue-level trends in melanosome evolution are probably controlled by physiological constraints on melanosome functions such as photoprotection, visual signaling, thermoregulation, and metal homeostasis, that have been in place at least since the Eocene. Skin melanosomes are not subject to such constraints on geometry, which may reflect evolutionary tradeoffs linked to the diversification of integumentary coloration and/or habitat.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41602913/\n- **PMID 42101880 (2026, Integrative and comparative biology)** — Activity Responses of Rana forreri and Rhinella horribilis Tadpoles to Predation Cues.. Abstract (opening): Tadpoles must rapidly detect and respond to predation cues to survive the most vulnerable stage of anuran development. Although previous studies have examined the effects of visual or chemical cues on tadpole behavior, none have compared the effects of multiple predator-associated sensory stimuli across species. Here, we examined the responses of two neotropical tadpole species, the Forrer's leopard frog Rana forreri (non-toxic), and the cane toad Rhinella horribilis (toxic), to visual, chemical, and auditory predation cues. Tadpoles were exposed to simulated bird shadows (visual cue), belostomatid-conditioned water (chemical cue), and calls of the Green Kingfisher predator, Chloroceryle americana (auditory cue). We recorded tadpole activity for 4 min prior to, 1 min during, and 4 min following treatment exposure using portable locomotion activity monitors (pLAMs). Rana forreri exhibited increased activity in response to auditory cues, whereas chemical and visual cues did not produce significant changes in activity levels relative to the control. Conversely, R. horribilis showed no significant differences in activity level across treatments. These findings suggest that antipredation responses vary in their sensitivity to sensory modality and may be shaped by species-specific defensive strategies. In particular, chemical defense may reduce reliance on immediate behavioral responses, while non-toxic species may exhibit stronger responsiveness to specific sensory cues. Together, our results highlight the selective prioritization of sensory information in shaping antipredation behavior in larval anurans.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42101880/\n- **PMID 41913691 (2026, Molecular ecology resources)** — A Field-Deployable eDNA Metabarcoding Workflow Including De Novo Reference Assembly for Characterising Understudied Biodiversity Hotspots.. Abstract (opening): Field-deployable DNA metabarcoding offers a transformative approach to biodiversity research and monitoring, yet its application remains limited due to technical constraints and a lack of reference data in poorly studied ecosystems. Combining isothermal Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) and Oxford Nanopore sequencing, we introduce a two-step approach that uses non-invasive species barcoding to directly generate reference sequences for use in environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, and enables real-time, PCR-free and cost-effective molecular assessment of ecological communities in the field. Using an endemic and understudied tropical amphibian assemblage as a model, we demonstrate the functionality of this novel workflow. De novo generation of a reference sequence library from amphibian skin swab samples significantly improved the accuracy and taxonomic resolution of sequence assignments from eDNA samples, particularly on the species level, in turn allowing a characterisation of fine-scale patterns in community composition. Beyond generating new RPA-compatible amphibian metabarcoding primers, our results show that combining field-based eDNA metabarcoding with the offline assembly of a local reference database can directly bridge existing data gaps in molecular biodiversity monitoring, providing a scalable solution to accelerate biodiversity assessments in data-deficient ecosystems. This workflow paves the way for broader deployment of molecular tools in global biodiversity hotspots-particularly in remote and resource-limited tropical regions-to directly contribute critical baseline data, and support conservation efforts in regions where they are most urgently needed.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41913691/\n- **PMID 40539017 (2025, International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife)** — First report of flesh-fly (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) myiasis in little-devil poison frog (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from Ecuador.. Abstract (opening): We report a case of myiasis in the poison frog <i>Oophaga sylvatica</i> from the Canandé Reserve located in the Chocó region of northwestern Ecuador. We identified the causal agents as larvae of flesh flies, Sarcophagidae, by means of DNA barcoding and morphological features. This represents the first record of myiasis in an anuran in Ecuador and the second record for Dendrobatidae in the Neotropics. This observation may constitute a case of facultative parasitism where larvae are deposited in the frog's wounds, but further research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms underlying this interaction.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40539017/\n- **PMID 41420552 (2025, Journal of morphology)** — Microanatomy of Dermal Roofing Bones in the Skull of Pipoid Frogs.. Abstract (opening): Previous research on bone microanatomy in amphibians suggests a correlation of microanatomical traits with both environmental and phylogenetic factors, but so far, studies had been limited to long bones. Using Pipoidea, a uniquely adapted clade of fully aquatic anurans, we investigated whether the microanatomical structures of anuran cranial bones display not only an ecological but also a clade-specific signal. Micro-CT scans of the skulls of five extant and three extinct pipoids species were compared with those of four phylogenetically distant, yet similarly aquatic anurans. We focused on the frontoparietal and maxillary bones, because they are among the largest bones in the anuran skull and are often preserved as fossils. From each of the bones the overall compactness, cross-sectional area, and thickness were extracted. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between the three groups in thickness and cross-sectional area, which is consistent with their shared lifestyle. Compactness, however, revealed a statistically significant difference between the Pipoidea clade and the phylogenetically distant group. Our findings suggest the presence of both a clade-specific and an environmental signal in the bone compactness of the pipoidean skull.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41420552/\n- **PMID 41561475 (2025, Frontiers in toxicology)** — Comparative assessment of solvents toxicity using early life stages of amphibians and cell lines: a case study with dimethyl sulfoxide.. Abstract (opening): The reduction in the number of animals being used in experimental assays has been a concern of the scientific community. In this sense, non-animal alternative methods have been increasingly tested. This study intended to explore how cell-based responses compare to organismal outcomes and if the former models could contribute to minimizing the number of live animals needed in subsequent stages of hazard/risk assessment of chemicals on amphibians. For this, the toxicity of the commonly used solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was assessed in early life stages (embryos and tadpoles) of two anuran species (<i>Xenopus laevis</i> and <i>Pelophylax perezi</i>) and in 2 cell lines of <i>X. laevis</i> (A6 and XTC-2). In the <i>in vivo</i> assays, mortality, teratogenic effects, and biometric parameters were evaluated, while for <i>in vitro</i> assays, the assessed endpoint was viability. Overall, the obtained data suggest similar sensitivity of both species and life stages to DMSO. The 96 h-LC<sub>50</sub> estimated for embryos and tadpoles were, respectively, 2.19% and 2.56% for <i>X. laevis</i> and 3.19 and 3.41 for <i>P. perezi</i>. The solvent DMSO induced several malformations in early life stages, which may have implications for the fitness of organisms at later stages. A slightly higher sensitivity to DMSO was observed in the <i>in vivo</i> approaches comparatively to <i>in vitro</i> approach (72 h-LC<sub>50</sub> of 3.10% and 2.62% for A6 and XTC-2, respectively), though it can not be considered significantly different. As such, it is suggested that the latter approach may be considered to serve for first screenings of the ecotoxicity of organic solvents. Such a strategy of using <i>in vitro</i> assays as screening tools, has the potential to reduce the number of animals to be used in subsequent <i>in vivo</i> testing phases by providing information for the refinement of concentrations to be tested in <i>in vivo</i> assays, thereby supporting both reduction and replacement objectives.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41561475/\n- **PMID 41375490 (2025, Animals : an open access journal from MDPI)** — Patent Pulmonary Infection with the Invasive Pentastomid &lt;i&gt;Raillietiella orientalis&lt;/i&gt; in a Panther Chameleon (&lt;i&gt;Furcifer pardalis&lt;/i&gt;) in Belgium.. Abstract (opening): <i>Raillietiella orientalis</i> is an obligate endoparasitic crustacean that is endemic to Southeast Asia and Africa and mainly inhabits the lungs of snake definitive hosts. This pentastomid has emerged as a neozoan parasite in North America, particularly in Florida, where its spread is likely linked to the introduction of nonindigenous Burmese pythons (<i>Python bivittatus</i>), and Australia. In Europe, <i>R. orientalis</i> has previously only been reported in a wild-caught chameleon in Germany. We report a case of <i>R. orientalis</i> infection in a two-year-old male panther chameleon (<i>Furcifer pardalis</i>) which presented with anorexia and respiratory signs. Radiography revealed a diffuse interstitial-alveolar pulmonary pattern, and pulmonoscopy demonstrated numerous adult pentastomids within the lungs and their saccular extensions. Endoscopy-guided removal attempts were unsuccessful. Coprological examination confirmed patent infection through the presence of pentastomid eggs. Morphological assessment and 18S rRNA PCR followed by sequencing identified the parasites as <i>R. orientalis</i>. As antiparasitic treatment with ivermectin and fenbendazole failed and clinical disease persisted, humane euthanasia was performed. This case provides the second description of <i>R. orientalis</i> in a chameleon definitive host and highlights the parasite's capacity for phenotypic plasticity in host utilization. Our findings underscore the potential role of the international reptile trade in facilitating the introduction and dissemination of this invasive pentastomid in Europe.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41375490/\n- **PMID 40873727 (2025, Ecology and evolution)** — Chemical Interference: A Review on Endocrine Disruptors and Reproductive Communication in Amphibians.. Abstract (opening): Amphibians are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic pollution, primarily due to their permeable skin and eggs, as well as their habitat preferences. Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), prevalent in aquatic environments and soil, pose a significant threat to their survival. While the physiological effects of EDCs on amphibians have been extensively studied, their impact on behavior remains relatively unexplored. This paper reviews the existing literature on the impact of EDCs on the mating behavior of amphibians, including disruptions in acoustic, olfactory, and visual communication. Although it has been shown that amphibian reproduction can be affected by endocrine disruptors, there are still significant research gaps. We performed an extensive review of the literature, which yielded only 27 eligible studies-21 of which tested the effects on mating communication and behavior, and only 6 examined the impact on body coloration. There is a strong need for a deeper understanding of how EDCs, both alone and in combination with other stressors, affect the reproductive behavior of amphibians, as this may have serious implications for the dynamics and survival of entire populations and species.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40873727/\n- **PMID 38818027 (2024, Biology methods & protocols)** — Comparing skin swabs, buccal swabs, and toe clips for amphibian genetic sampling, a case study with a small anuran (<i>Acris blanchardi</i>).. Abstract (opening): Multiple methods for collecting genetic samples from amphibians exist, each with their own implications for study design, animal welfare, and costs. Toe clipping is one common method, but there is ongoing debate regarding its potential detriment. Less invasive methods should be implemented, if efficacious, as amphibians are a particularly vulnerable vertebrate group. Skin and buccal swabbing are less invasive methods for genetic sampling, but the potential for contamination and a lower yield of DNA may exist. To compare these methods, we gathered skin swabs, buccal swabs, and toe clips from the same individuals of a relatively small anuran species, Blanchard's Cricket Frog (<i>Acris blanchardi</i>). We then compared DNA yield, DNA purity, amplification success rate, and genotypic data quality among sample types. We found toe clips and buccal swabs generated similar DNA yield and purity, with skin swabs yielding significantly less DNA of significantly lower purity than the other sample types. Amplification success rate was significantly higher using toe clips compared to the other sample types, though buccal swab samples amplified more readily than skin swabs. Genotypic data from toe clips and buccal swabs did not differ significantly in quality, but skin swab data quality was significantly lowest among sample types. Thus, skin swabbing could produce erroneous data in some situations, but buccal swabbing is likely an effective substitute to toe clipping, even for small species. Our results can help future researchers select which genetic sampling method might best suit their research needs.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38818027/\n- **PMID 38354202 (2024, PLoS computational biology)** — Enhancing predictive performance for spectroscopic studies in wildlife science through a multi-model approach: A case study for species classification of live amphibians.. Abstract (opening): Near infrared spectroscopy coupled with predictive modeling is a growing field of study for addressing questions in wildlife science aimed at improving management strategies and conservation outcomes for managed and threatened fauna. To date, the majority of spectroscopic studies in wildlife and fisheries applied chemometrics and predictive modeling with a single-algorithm approach. By contrast, multi-model approaches are used routinely for analyzing spectroscopic datasets across many major industries (e.g., medicine, agriculture) to maximize predictive outcomes for real-world applications. In this study, we conducted a benchmark modeling exercise to compare the performance of several machine learning algorithms in a multi-class problem utilizing a multivariate spectroscopic dataset obtained from live animals. Spectra obtained from live individuals representing eleven amphibian species were classified according to taxonomic designation. Seven modeling techniques were applied to generate prediction models, which varied significantly (p < 0.05) with regard to mean classification accuracy (e.g., support vector machine: 95.8 ± 0.8% vs. K-nearest neighbors: 89.3 ± 1.0%). Through the use of a multi-algorithm approach, candidate algorithms can be identified and applied to more effectively model complex spectroscopic data collected for wildlife sciences. Other key considerations in the predictive modeling workflow that serve to optimize spectroscopic model performance (e.g., variable selection and cross-validation procedures) are also discussed.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38354202/\n- **PMID 39052625 (2024, PloS one)** — Oral administration of GnRH via a cricket vehicle stimulates spermiation in tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum).. Abstract (opening): More than 50% of caudates are threatened with extinction and are in need of ex-situ breeding programs to support conservation efforts and species recovery. Unfortunately, many salamander populations under human care can experience reproductive failure, primarily due to missing environmental cues necessary for breeding. Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are a useful suite of techniques for overcoming or bypassing these missing environmental cues to promote breeding. Exogenous hormones are used to stimulate natural breeding behaviors or gamete expression for in-vitro fertilization or biobanking and are typically administered intramuscularly in caudates. While effective, intramuscular injection is risky to perform in smaller-bodied animals, resulting in health and welfare risks. This research investigated the spermiation response to hormone administration through a non-invasive oral bioencapsulation route using the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) as a model species. Male salamanders were randomly rotated six weeks apart through four treatments (n = 11 males/treatment) in which animals received a resolving dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) as follows: (1) Prime-Only (0.0 μg/g); (2) Low (0.25 μg/g); (3) Medium (1.0 μg/g); and (4) High (2.0 μg/g). All males were given a GnRH priming dose (0.25 μg/g) 24 hours prior to the resolving dose. Exogenous hormone was delivered inside of a cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus) that was presented as a food item by tweezers. Sperm samples were collected at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours after the resolving dose and analyzed for quantity and quality. For all treatments, sperm concentration was produced in an episodic pattern over time. The Prime-Only treatment had a lower (p < 0.05) percent of sperm exhibiting normal morphology compared to treatments utilizing a resolving dose of GnRH. Overall, oral administration of GnRH is a feasible route of inducing spermiation in salamanders, yielding sperm of sufficient quantity and quality for in-vitro fertilization and biobanking efforts.\n  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39052625/\n\nSource text: `pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_amphibian_clinical_2026-08-01.txt` (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).\n","sources":["Europe PMC — Evidence cluster — Pet amphibian (anuran) clinical cases (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC) (retrieved 2026-08-01)"],"source":{"authority":"Europe PMC","title":"Evidence cluster — Pet amphibian (anuran) clinical cases (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC)","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42117820/","retrieved":"2026-08-01","ref":"PMID 42117820","doc_type":"official PDF","source_document":"Peer-reviewed Pet amphibian clinical-case literature (Europe PMC, first-hand abstracts)","verification_file":"pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_amphibian_clinical_2026-08-01.txt"},"source_document":"Peer-reviewed Pet amphibian clinical-case literature (Europe PMC, first-hand abstracts)","source_file":"pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_amphibian_clinical_2026-08-01.txt","tokens_estimated":600,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}