Abstract
Emerging fungal diseases can drive amphibian species to local extinction. During 2010–2016, we examined 1,921 urodeles in 3 European countries. Presence of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans at new locations and in urodeles of different species expands the known geographic and host range of the fungus and underpins its imminent threat to biodiversity.
Highlights
Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs, An Martel, Johan Asselberghs, Emma K
Infection trials suggest that Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) represents an unprecedented threat to diversity of Western Palearctic urodeles [2]; reports of deaths among salamanders and newts in their naturalized ranges have been restricted to a few populations of a single salamander species in the southern Netherlands and adjacent Belgium [1,3]
Site selection was based on reported amphibian deaths, apparent negative amphibian population trends, preventive Bsal surveillance in susceptible populations, or geographic proximity to known outbreak sites
Summary
Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs, An Martel, Johan Asselberghs, Emma K. The recently described chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is an emerging pathogen that is driving amphibian populations to local extinction [1,2]. In Europe, Bsal infection has led to dramatic declines of fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) populations in the Netherlands and Belgium [2].
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