Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are increasingly recognized as a threat to both biodiversity and human health (Scheele et al., 2019; Wells et al., 2020). But pathogens cannot been seen as unique entities; their intraspecific genetic variability represented in variants, strains, antigenic types or genetic lineages may cause different impacts at the population level (Nelson and Holmes, 2007; Greenspan et al., 2018). The global spread of pathogens has been largely facilitated by globalization of transport, which particularly intensified during the last century (O'Hanlon et al., 2018). As seen with SARS-CoV-2, air travel can rapidly spread a pathogen globally (Wells et al., 2020). Furthermore, after initial introduction subsequent translocations of a pathogen may cause the contact of different variants facilitating the rise of novel genotypes that may have higher pathogenicity or transmissibility (Nelson and Holmes, 2007; Greenspan et al., 2018). Chytridiomycosis is an EID caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), that infects amphibian skin causing population declines to extinction in susceptible species. Now a wildlife pandemic, Bd has been recognized as the single pathogen causing the greatest loss of biodiversity on Earth (Scheele et al., 2019). Recent advances in genetics have made novel tools for pathogen detection and characterization more accessible and reliable (Boyle et al., 2004; Byrne et al., 2019). In this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Ghosh et al. (2021) report the development of a new genotyping qPCR assay targeting mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Bd, and based on noninvasive swab samples (Figure 1), discriminate between the two most globally widespread and pathogenic genetic lineages of Bd. Having a better understanding of how the genetic diversity of a pathogen is distributed is crucial to understand their spread patterns and develop timely mitigation strategies.

中文翻译：

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不仅仅是病原体：识别遗传变异以减轻野生动物大流行的重要性

新出现的传染病 (EID) 越来越被认为是对生物多样性和人类健康的威胁（Scheele 等人，2019 年；Wells 等人，2020 年）。但是病原体不能被视为独特的实体；它们在变体、品系、抗原类型或遗传谱系中表现出的种内遗传变异性可能会在种群水平上造成不同的影响（Nelson 和 Holmes，2007 年；Greenspan 等人，2018 年）。运输全球化在很大程度上促进了病原体的全球传播，这一趋势在上个世纪尤其加剧（O'Hanlon 等人，2018 年）。正如 SARS-CoV-2 所见，航空旅行可以在全球范围内迅速传播病原体（Wells 等，2020）。此外，在最初引入后，病原体的后续易位可能会导致不同变体的接触，从而促进可能具有更高致病性或传播性的新基因型的出现（Nelson 和 Holmes，2007；Greenspan 等，2018）。壶菌病是由真菌引起的 EIDBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd )，它感染两栖动物的皮肤，导致易感物种的种群数量下降至灭绝。Bd现在是一种野生动物大流行病，已被公认为导致地球上生物多样性丧失最大的单一病原体（Scheele 等人，2019 年）。遗传学的最新进展使病原体检测和表征的新工具更容易获得和可靠（Boyle 等人，2004 年；Byrne 等人，2019 年）。在本期分子生态资源中，Ghosh 等人。(2021) 报告开发了一种针对Bd线粒体 DNA (mtDNA) 的新基因分型 qPCR 检测，并基于非侵入性拭子样本（图 1），区分Bd的两个全球最广泛和致病的遗传谱系。更好地了解病原体的遗传多样性如何分布对于了解其传播模式和制定及时的缓解策略至关重要。