The infectious disease chytridiomycosis caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is considered one of the main culprits causing major amphibian declines and extinctions worldwide. It is known to occur on every continent except Antarctica and is particularly damaging to amphibian tropical populations. We studied 18 different amphibian species from three different localities in Nicaragua. Our results confirm the presence of Bd for first time in Nicaragua and involve ten amphibian species corresponding to Bufonidae, Craugastoridae, Hylidae and Ranidae. We additionally record Bd for the first time in four amphibian species: Craugastor lauraster, Dendropsophus microcephalus, Smilisca baudinii and Lithobates brownorum.

Peer reviewed