Frog Meat Trade Linked to Global Spread of Deadly Fungus, Research Shows

A deadly fungus responsible for the decline of hundreds of amphibian species worldwide may have been spread through the international frog meat trade, research indicates. The fungus, a type of chytrid, likely originated in Brazil and hitched a ride on bullfrogs (Aquarana catesbeiana), a species commercially bred in the country since the 1930s, according to a report published January 19, 2026.

The research highlights the potential for the global wildlife trade to disseminate biological threats across borders. Genetic evidence and trade data suggest the fungus spread internationally via frog meat markets, according to Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo.

The findings raise urgent concerns about how wildlife trade can spread hidden biological threats. The spread of the fungus has decimated amphibian populations globally, leading to widespread decline, according to the report. The fungus likely hitched a ride on bullfrogs, a species commercially bred in Brazil since the 1930s.