Screening natural history collections for historical presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in anoraks from Oklahoma, USA

In North America, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has been present for at least the last half-century; however, infectious amphibian diseases have remained poorly studied through most of the Great Plains of the United States. In Oklahoma, Bd has been documented in wild populations only three times, with four counties surveyed. It is imperative that a greater portion of the state be surveyed to develop a baseline understanding of the distribution and status of Bd statewide. A large-scale, statewide Bd survey project has been funded by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) to determine the current distribution and prevalence of Bd in amphibians in Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). To complement the project, we present data on the historical presence of Bd using museum specimens to provide a baseline for Bd prevalence in the state. We expected that Bd would be present and widespread throughout Oklahoma.