Treatment of chytridiomycosis requires urgent clinical trials

Published source details Berger L., Speare R., Pessier A., Voyles J. & Skerratt L.F. (2010) Treatment of chytridiomycosis requires urgent clinical trials. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 92, 165-174.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use antifungal treatment to reduce chytridiomycosis infection Action Link

Use antifungal treatment to reduce chytridiomycosis infection

A review in 2010 describing a replicated controlled study (Berger et al. 2010) found that treatment with benzalkonium chloride, fluconazole or methylene blue did not cure great barred frog Mixophyes fasciolatus tadpoles of chytridiomycosis. Although they did not cure infections, benzalkonium chloride and fluconazole reduced infection levels. However, at concentrations above 1 mg/L (2–10 mg/L) benzalkonium chloride caused death of tadpoles (over 29%). Methylene blue at concentrations of 12–24 mg/L also caused high mortality. Fifty-six tadpoles were bathed daily in benzalkonium chloride (1 mg/L; 3 hrs) for three days, repeated five days later, or in fluconazole (7 mg/L; 6 hrs) for seven days, or methylene blue (3 or 6 mg/L) for three days. There were 57 controls. Frogs were tested 18 days after treatment. Other studies included in this review have been summarized individually.