A Frog Sauna? Biologists Create a Warm Cure for Fungal Infections

Amaze Lab

When we’re feeling in need of rejuvenation we might head to a sauna to relax and refresh. Well, it turns out frogs suffering from a common fungal infection can sort of do the same in this: a sauna made of everyday brick.

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00:00When we're feeling in need of rejuvenation, we might head to the spa to relax and refresh.

00:07Well, it turns out frogs suffering from a common fungal infection can sort of do the same thing

00:12in this, a sauna made of everyday brick. The fungal infection attacks some 500 amphibian

00:17species and has contributed to the decline of the green and golden bell frog. That species

00:22has seen some 90% of their population disappear from their native habitats in Australia,

00:27which is why researchers were keen to figure out a way to get rid of the destructive fungal infection

00:32called chytrid, one that goes after the amphibian skin and makes it difficult for the creatures to

00:37take in electrolytes and fluids. Luckily, chytrid can only thrive in cooler temperatures and dies

00:42when the mercury rises past 86 degrees Fahrenheit. While infection rates go up in the winter, the

00:48frogs still prefer warmer temperatures, meaning providing them a warm brick sauna haven, which

00:52is attractive to them, can also lower their infection rates at the same time. And the biologist's

00:57hypothesis worked, with the researchers noting that this simple brick sauna has not only reduced

01:01mortality after infection, but the frogs are 23 times more likely to survive reinfection in the future.

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