March 12,
2019, Zoological
Society of London
The UK's
wild newt populations seem to be free from a flesh-eating lethal fungus known
to be prevalent in privately-owned amphibians across Western Europe, a
nationwide investigation has found.
Scientists
from international conservation charity ZSL and its research partners, are now
urging private amphibian owners
to enforce strict biosecurity measures to protect the UK's wild newtpopulation from the catastrophic
devastation that Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (or Bsal) could
cause.
The
research, conducted by ZSL (Zoological Society of London), The University of
Exeter and the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK, published
in Scientific Reports today (12 March 2019) combined data gathered
from skin swabbing more than 2,400 wild newts in ponds across the UK, along
with data from newt deaths reported to ZSL's Garden Wildlife Health project.
The results of the investigations revealed Bsal was not present in the samples
collected.
In 2010,
the deadly fungus was responsible for a 99% decline in a monitored population
of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) in the Netherlands, with population
declines expanding into Belgium and Germany, and led to the extinction of local
populations within months of being introduced.
Professor
Andrew Cunningham, Deputy Director of Science at ZSL and lead author on the
paper said: "Identifying potential wildlife health risks before they
develop is crucial to protecting species from the potentially devastating
impacts of disease. Having identified that Bsal appears to be absent from wild
newts in the UK, we now need to ensure effective biosecurity policies governing
the trade of amphibians into the UK are in place, including adequate quarantine
and testing of imported amphibians."
Dr. Becki
Lawson, Senior Research Fellow at ZSL's Institute of Zoology said: "We
know that infection with Bsal fungus is widespread in captive amphibians in the
UK, therefore amphibian owners must take steps to avoid any direct or indirect
contact between wild and pet newts, by keeping animals indoors and disinfecting
equipment and tanks thoroughly. These actions will help to safeguard the health
of both wild and captive amphibians".
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