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영어

Global threats facing amphibian populations became serious. Spreading of chytridiomycosis, caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is one of the biggest threats of amphibians worldwide. To determine the distribution of Bd in South Korea, 819 amphibians in wild were examined for Bd by standard PCR or Nested PCR, and 57 (6.96%) positive specimens were detected. The pathogen was found in 7 native species (Bufo gargarizans, Bombina orientalis, Hyla japonica, Hynobius leechii, Rana dybowskii, Rana rugosa and Rana nigromaculata) and an exotic species (Rana catesbeiana) in South Korea. These results confirm that the amphibian chytrid fungus, Bd, is present in South Korea widely. Therefore, measures to protect Korean amphibians from chytridiomycosis and researches on the origin and pathogenicity in South Korea of the pathogen are urgently required.