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Aphanomyces Astaci |
1. Shrimp Disease: Aphanomyces astaci
Aphanomyces astaci is a fungus that thrives in freshwater and parasitizes shrimp. This disease has significantly reduced shrimp populations and poses a risk of extinction for some of the five native shrimp species in Europe.
2. Banana Heart Rot: Banana bunchy top virus
The banana bunchy top virus causes a disease known as banana heart rot. The disease is transmitted by the plant pest Pentalonia nigronervosa and is considered the most economically devastating banana disease worldwide.
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Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis |
3. Chytrid Fungus Disease: Chytridiomycosis (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis)
Chytridiomycosis was first identified in 1998 by an international team of scientists from Australia, the USA, and the UK. Since then, this fungus has been recognized as a major factor in the drastic decline of frog populations in pristine areas of Panama and Australia.
4. Chestnut Blight: Cryphonectria parasitica
Chestnut blight is caused by a fungus that decays the branches and trunks of chestnut trees. After infecting through wounds on the bark, the fungus invades the tree deeply, leading to the death of the tree from the infected area upwards. This fungus has devastated most American chestnut trees.
5. Avian Malaria: Plasmodium relictum
This parasitic sporozoan is transmitted by mosquitoes and causes avian malaria, which can be lethal to susceptible species (such as penguins) and birds (in Hawaii), where the malaria parasite is not naturally present.
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Ophiostoma Ulmi |
6. Dutch Elm Disease: Ophiostoma ulmi
Dutch elm disease, caused by the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi, can result in tree death. This fungus is transmitted by bark beetles and through grafting. It poses a significant threat to elm trees in South America and Europe.
7. Rinderpest: Rinderpest virus
Rinderpest is a viral disease affecting even-toed ungulates. It causes severe ulceration of the digestive tract mucosa and can lead to rapid death of infected animals. The disease is still present in many regions of Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
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Phytophthora Cinnamomi |
8. Root Rot: Phytophthora cinnamomi
P. cinnamomi is a root fungus that causes vascular wilt and mortality in many plant species. The disease thrives in moist environments and infects the roots and basal stem tissues. It weakens or kills plants by obstructing the transport of water and nutrients.
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Plasmodium Relictum | Rinderpest Virus |
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Cryphonectria Parasitica | Pentalonia Nigronervosa |
(The species listed here are chosen to illustrate the harmful effects of invasive organisms. The absence of species from this list does not imply they are less dangerous.)
