Name
Herpesviruses and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Amphibians in Northeastern Germany
Speakers
Jörg Plötner, Museum für Naturkunde
Jennifer Scherzer, Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG
Norbert Schneeweiss, Landesamt für Umwelt, Land Brandenburg
Jennifer Scherzer, Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG
Norbert Schneeweiss, Landesamt für Umwelt, Land Brandenburg
Description
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), B. salamandrivorans (Bsal), ranaviruses, bufonid herpesvirus 1 (bfHV1), and ranid herpesvirus 3 (RaHV3) have all been found in various amphibian species and in various locations in Germany. However, screening for these pathogens in wild amphibians has been sporadic. In 2023, a project screening samples from 310 amphibians from seven different species in the state of Brandenburg for all of these pathogens by PCR detected Bd in 8.71% of the samples, including 45.83% of the European fire-bellied toads (Bombina bombina) tested. BfHV1 was found in 33.23% of the samples, including in 90.53% of the common toads (Bufo bufo) and 10.53% of the northern crested newts (Triturus cristatus) tested. RaHV3 was found in 0.65% of the samples, in a water frog (Pelophylax spp.) and a northern crested newt. A follow-up study was carried out in 2024 testing 92 animals and focusing on European fire-bellied toads, common toads, and northern crested newts. Bd was not found in any of the animals tested (P < 0.0001) and BfHV1 was also found at a significantly (P < 0.0001) lower prevalence (54.84%) in common toads in 2024. RaHV3 was found in common toads, northern crested newts, and European fire-bellied toads in 2024 and prevalence of RaHV3 was significantly (P < 0.0001) higher in 2024 (12.9%) than in 2023 (0.65%). Additional testing is planned in 2025 to better understand the epidemiology of these pathogens in amphibians in this area and their impact on these amphibian populations, which are in decline.
Session Type
Lecture (25 Min)