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News & Reports amphibian conservation
‘Salamander plague’ on Britain’s doorstep Chytridiomycosis can cause mass declines in amphibians, and the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is the classic cause of this disease. However, recently, a second strain of chytrid fungus has emerged in Europe, resulting in major declines in fire salamanders. The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) discussed this, and the implications for the UK, at a meeting in December in London. Georgina Mills reports A NOVEL chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, is causing a sharp decline in fire salamanders in Europe: it could come to the UK, and we need to be prepared for this. This was the message of the ZSL event, in which the science, implications for the UK and policies surrounding the fungus were discussed. Giving some background to the emergence of the novel fungus, An Martel, from Ghent University and the lead researcher of the group that originally discovered it, explained that, from 2008, a sharp decline in fire salamanders in the Netherlands had been noted, caused by chytridiomycosis. Although the cases were similar to those caused by the already established fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, PCR showed that this was not the causative agent and researchers found that the fungus represented a previously undescribed lineage, in the same clade as B dendrobatidis. Professor Martel explained that the fungus caused anorexia, apathy and ataxia, but most notably ulcerations on the skin. Research showed that, once infected, fire salamanders died within seven days. As well as a duplex PCR test for both fungi, histology had proven useful in diagnosis, as thickening of the skin was seen only with B salamandrivorans infections. Both species of Batrachochytrium caused lethal skin diseases, but one of the main differences between the two was that B salamandrivorans had a lower thermal growth preference. To find out more about the risks posed by B salamandrivorans, Professor Martel and her colleagues performed a sensitivity test to find its host range. They exposed 35 amphibian species, from the three amphibian orders, to 500 zoospores for 24 hours to see how each would react. She reported that all Anuras (frogs and toads) were resistant to the fungus, although the reasons why were unknown. It was shown that B salamandrivorans was limited to salamanders and newts, and for most European species, the fungus would be lethal. This included the great crested newt, which was of conservation significance in the UK. Through this work, Professor Martel 88 | Veterinary Record | January 24, 2015
and colleagues demonstrated that the fungus was only seen in European and Asian amphibian species. In addition, Asian salamander species were susceptible to the fungus, but it was not lethal to them, suggesting that they might act as a reservoir and that B salamandrivorans might have been in Asia for some time. She suggested that the fungus had come to Europe through trade and importation. ‘Globalisation and a lack of biosecurity can have major implications for biodiversity, and you should urgently take measures to prevent this,’ she warned.
Implications for the UK
B salamandrivorans was very worrying, said Jim Foster, conservation director for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, as he explained that some reputable publications had gone as far as describing it as the ‘salamander plague’. Looking back to the host range work that Professor Martel and her group had carried out, it was clear that great crested newts and alpine newts (which, although non-native, had been found in the UK) were at risk from the fungus; however, the palmate newt was resistant to it, which was some good news, he said. Although inferring the effects on wild populations from laboratory results was difficult, Mr Foster said that, in this case, the evidence was so compelling that it should be a ‘wake up call’ for the UK. However, despite the worrying evidence, and the fact that it could have implications for wildlife communities, nobody would know the full effects in the UK until the fungus arrived ‘There is no need to panic, but we also should not be complacent,’ said Mr Foster, adding that, when dealing with the fungus, ‘We need to be precautionary but pragmatic.’ The actions that were taken now would determine the impact of B salamandrivorans. Like Professor Martel, Mr Foster suggested that although it was not known for certain how the fungus reached Europe, it could be assumed that it arrived through trade, whether this was official or not. With all types of trade, there was the risk of amphibians being released into the wild deliberately or by accident, and the risk of diseases. In addition, exotic newts were
easily available to buy and there was often minimal or no attention to biosecurity in the advice given to pet owners, he said. To overcome these risks, certain measures could be put in place. Testing animals for B salamandrivorans before they were imported would be a big step and the enforcement of a moratorium on trade until this testing was in place would be a good start, he said. There should also be increased biosecurity and an increase in disease awareness for all stakeholders. As for unofficial trade, he explained that there needed to be an outreach to pet keepers to explain the dangers of diseases and the implications that these could have. Surveillance was key for this fungus, and Mr Foster said that, if B salamandrivorans did get to the UK, it could be caught early enough if a system was in place. ‘We need a plan, and the Government needs to take the lead,’ he said.
Creating policy
‘No-one owns wildlife, and, as a default, the Government has a responsibility for all aspects of wildlife,’ said Paul Duff, from the APHA. He described the Diseases of Wildlife Scheme (DoWS) that was already in place in the UK, and was supported by Defra. This existed as ‘wildlife are sources of new and re-emerging diseases’, he said. The DoWS covered all diseases in all wild terrestrial vertebrates and was organised by the APHA. In 2009, the DoWS chaired a partnership between six organisations, each covering a different speciality, to deliver wildlife surveillance – this was called the Great Britain Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership. Mr Duff explained the process by which information about emerging threats was given to the Government, in a monthly report that was passed to the Veterinary Risk Group (VRG). B salamandrivorans was currently being considered by the VRG, he said, and following its decision, action could be taken. He concluded by saying that the challenge of wildlife diseases was increasing and that tackling it would require both collaboration and new surveillance initiatives. doi: 10.1136/vr.g7727
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 14, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
'Salamander plague' on Britain's doorstep
Veterinary Record 2015 176: 88
doi: 10.1136/vr.g7727 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/176/4/88
These include:
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Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
News & Reports amphibian conservation
‘Salamander plague’ on Britain’s doorstep Chytridiomycosis can cause mass declines in amphibians, and the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is the classic cause of this disease. However, recently, a second strain of chytrid fungus has emerged in Europe, resulting in major declines in fire salamanders. The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) discussed this, and the implications for the UK, at a meeting in December in London. Georgina Mills reports A NOVEL chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, is causing a sharp decline in fire salamanders in Europe: it could come to the UK, and we need to be prepared for this. This was the message of the ZSL event, in which the science, implications for the UK and policies surrounding the fungus were discussed. Giving some background to the emergence of the novel fungus, An Martel, from Ghent University and the lead researcher of the group that originally discovered it, explained that, from 2008, a sharp decline in fire salamanders in the Netherlands had been noted, caused by chytridiomycosis. Although the cases were similar to those caused by the already established fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, PCR showed that this was not the causative agent and researchers found that the fungus represented a previously undescribed lineage, in the same clade as B dendrobatidis. Professor Martel explained that the fungus caused anorexia, apathy and ataxia, but most notably ulcerations on the skin. Research showed that, once infected, fire salamanders died within seven days. As well as a duplex PCR test for both fungi, histology had proven useful in diagnosis, as thickening of the skin was seen only with B salamandrivorans infections. Both species of Batrachochytrium caused lethal skin diseases, but one of the main differences between the two was that B salamandrivorans had a lower thermal growth preference. To find out more about the risks posed by B salamandrivorans, Professor Martel and her colleagues performed a sensitivity test to find its host range. They exposed 35 amphibian species, from the three amphibian orders, to 500 zoospores for 24 hours to see how each would react. She reported that all Anuras (frogs and toads) were resistant to the fungus, although the reasons why were unknown. It was shown that B salamandrivorans was limited to salamanders and newts, and for most European species, the fungus would be lethal. This included the great crested newt, which was of conservation significance in the UK. Through this work, Professor Martel 88 | Veterinary Record | January 24, 2015
and colleagues demonstrated that the fungus was only seen in European and Asian amphibian species. In addition, Asian salamander species were susceptible to the fungus, but it was not lethal to them, suggesting that they might act as a reservoir and that B salamandrivorans might have been in Asia for some time. She suggested that the fungus had come to Europe through trade and importation. ‘Globalisation and a lack of biosecurity can have major implications for biodiversity, and you should urgently take measures to prevent this,’ she warned.
Implications for the UK
B salamandrivorans was very worrying, said Jim Foster, conservation director for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, as he explained that some reputable publications had gone as far as describing it as the ‘salamander plague’. Looking back to the host range work that Professor Martel and her group had carried out, it was clear that great crested newts and alpine newts (which, although non-native, had been found in the UK) were at risk from the fungus; however, the palmate newt was resistant to it, which was some good news, he said. Although inferring the effects on wild populations from laboratory results was difficult, Mr Foster said that, in this case, the evidence was so compelling that it should be a ‘wake up call’ for the UK. However, despite the worrying evidence, and the fact that it could have implications for wildlife communities, nobody would know the full effects in the UK until the fungus arrived ‘There is no need to panic, but we also should not be complacent,’ said Mr Foster, adding that, when dealing with the fungus, ‘We need to be precautionary but pragmatic.’ The actions that were taken now would determine the impact of B salamandrivorans. Like Professor Martel, Mr Foster suggested that although it was not known for certain how the fungus reached Europe, it could be assumed that it arrived through trade, whether this was official or not. With all types of trade, there was the risk of amphibians being released into the wild deliberately or by accident, and the risk of diseases. In addition, exotic newts were
easily available to buy and there was often minimal or no attention to biosecurity in the advice given to pet owners, he said. To overcome these risks, certain measures could be put in place. Testing animals for B salamandrivorans before they were imported would be a big step and the enforcement of a moratorium on trade until this testing was in place would be a good start, he said. There should also be increased biosecurity and an increase in disease awareness for all stakeholders. As for unofficial trade, he explained that there needed to be an outreach to pet keepers to explain the dangers of diseases and the implications that these could have. Surveillance was key for this fungus, and Mr Foster said that, if B salamandrivorans did get to the UK, it could be caught early enough if a system was in place. ‘We need a plan, and the Government needs to take the lead,’ he said.
Creating policy
‘No-one owns wildlife, and, as a default, the Government has a responsibility for all aspects of wildlife,’ said Paul Duff, from the APHA. He described the Diseases of Wildlife Scheme (DoWS) that was already in place in the UK, and was supported by Defra. This existed as ‘wildlife are sources of new and re-emerging diseases’, he said. The DoWS covered all diseases in all wild terrestrial vertebrates and was organised by the APHA. In 2009, the DoWS chaired a partnership between six organisations, each covering a different speciality, to deliver wildlife surveillance – this was called the Great Britain Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership. Mr Duff explained the process by which information about emerging threats was given to the Government, in a monthly report that was passed to the Veterinary Risk Group (VRG). B salamandrivorans was currently being considered by the VRG, he said, and following its decision, action could be taken. He concluded by saying that the challenge of wildlife diseases was increasing and that tackling it would require both collaboration and new surveillance initiatives. doi: 10.1136/vr.g7727
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 14, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
'Salamander plague' on Britain's doorstep
Veterinary Record 2015 176: 88
doi: 10.1136/vr.g7727 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/176/4/88
These include:
Email alerting service
Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
