Mucormycotic dermatitis in captive adult Wyoming toads

During late May 1995, 50 adult captive endangered Wyoming toads (Bufo baxte ri) were brought out of hibernation. Approximately 3 to 10 days after hiber nation emergence, all toads were hormonally induced to breed, and paired. E ach pair was placed in their own breeding tank. Four toads developed clinic al signs of disease which included lethargy and multiple (4 to 12) small (2 mm) raised hyperemic nodules with white fuzzy caps on the ventral skin. Th e condition progressively worsened until death occurred, within 3 to 6 days . Mycotic dermatitis caused by Mucor sp. was diagnosed in the four toads th rough histology and isolation of the organism. This is the first case repor t of a Mucor sp. causing a fatal dermatitis in an amphibian without signifi cant inflammatory response and without systemic involvement.