Chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has caused the extinction or severe decline of over 500 amphibian species globally.
Chytridiomycosis causes death from disrupted electrolyte balance - the equivalent of a slow cardiac arrest driven by dysfunctional skin. Affected frogs become lethargic, lose the righting reflex, and die over days to weeks as electrolyte imbalances worsen. For critically endangered species where remaining individuals can be counted in hundreds, each disease death represents a profound welfare and conservation loss. Probiotic treatment in captive populations shows promise for welfare and survival, and reintroduced populations with probiotic application can survive in previously fatal environments. The wild animal suffering dimension is enormous given the scale of amphibian population crashes.