PROTOZOA IN POISON DART FROGS (DENDROBATIDAE) - CLINICAL-ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFICATION

Poison dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) are small, brightly colored frogs in digenous to the neotropics. In the wild, two genera are vulnerable to extinction, yet in captivity increasing numbers of dendrobatids are ma intained. Despite the great interest in these frogs, there is little p ublished information available on their health. Clinical assessment of the protozoa from wild-caught and captive-bred dendrobatids was based on examination of approximately 300 direct fecal samples from a colon y of frogs. Intestinal protozoa were observed in 26% of all colony fro gs. In different groups, the prevalences were as follows: sick frogs, 50%; quarantined frogs, 35%; healthy frogs, 25%; and exiting frogs, 15 %. The densities of infection were usually light or moderate for all p rotozoa (opalinid, ciliate, and flagellate trophozoites and opalinid a nd coccidian cysts). Most of the intestinal protozoa appeared to be co mmensals rather than parasites and are not routinely treated. The use of therapeutic agents may be indicated, however, to regain homeostasis in frogs following stressful events such as capture, shipping, or ill ness. Protozoa were identified in detail from black and green poison d art frogs (Dendrobates auratus) and strawberry poison dart frogs (Dend robates pumilio), ''research frogs'' wild caught in Central America es pecially for this purpose. The 69 research frogs were euthanized and n ecropsied. Protozoans in the large intestine and blood were photograph ed and preserved for identification using light microscopy and scannin g and transmission electron microscopy. All research frogs had a dense protozoan fauna in their large intestine. Organisms included the opal inid Zelleriella sp., the ciliate Nyctotheroides sp., and retortamonad , trichomonad, and diplomonad flagellates; these flagellates are repor ted from dendrobatids for the first time. Prevalence of infection was not significantly different in D. auratus euthanized within a day of c apture and in frogs subsequently maintained in captivity. Nyctotheroid es sp. was not seen in D. pumilio, and Zelleriella sp. was significant ly less prevalent in D. pumilio than in D. auratus. Trypanosoma sp. wa s present in the blood of D. auratus.