Alien Smooth Newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) in Australia Are Infected with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis but Test Negative for Ranaviruses

Jessica Whinfield; Reid Tingley; Alison Tweedie; Jasmin Hufschmid; Paul Hick

doi:10.7589/JWD-D-21-00091

Alien Smooth Newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) in Australia Are Infected with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis but Test Negative for Ranaviruses

J Wildl Dis. 2022 Jan 1;58(1):248-250. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-21-00091.

Authors

Jessica Whinfield¹, Reid Tingley², Alison Tweedie³, Jasmin Hufschmid¹, Paul Hick³

Affiliations

¹ Melbourne School of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia.
² School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, 25 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
³ Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Australia and OIE Reference Laboratory for Ranavirus Infection of Amphibians, 425 Werombi Road, Camden, New South Wales 2570, Australia.

PMID: 34797909
DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-21-00091

Abstract

Smooth newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) established recently in Melbourne, Australia. Previously, the population's disease status was unknown. Samples from 34 adults and 78 larvae, collected 2011-16, were tested for two pathogens driving the global amphibian extinction crisis. The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was identified (6.3% quantitative PCR positive); ranaviruses were not detected.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Batrachochytrium
Chytridiomycota*
Mycoses* / epidemiology
Mycoses* / microbiology
Mycoses* / veterinary
Ranavirus*
Salamandridae