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Strict laws have helped the dazzling great crested newt from becoming extinct in the UK, with housing and industrial developments halted while the amphibians are rescued and given new homes.
But scientists now fear that British newts could be blighted by the salamander-eating fungus which has been found widespread among Europe’s private amphibian trade. The fungus –
Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans or Bsal, for short – has a potential of slipping into the UK from the Continent and infecting wild populations of newts. Today the Zoological Society of
London warned of the threats posed to Britain’s three species of native newt – the great crested, smooth and palmate – after a scientific study into the spread of the fungus. Scientists from
ZSL’s Institute of Zoology and Ghent University in Belgium studied 11 private amphibian collections and discovered seven to have Bsal with high rates of the disease and mortality. The
research sees experts calling for immediate efforts to thwart the disease in the private trade. Professor Andrew Cunningham, from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, warned: “The presence of Bsal in
amphibian collections increases the risk of Bsal infection being transferred to nearby wild amphibian populations, for example, through contaminated wastewater or released or escaped
animals. "The critical control point here is the prevention of the fungus being introduced into amphibian collections in the first place. “Along with international Government
regulations being implemented to control the amphibian trade, biosecurity guidance and best practice methods for sanitisation need to be disseminated throughout the private trade
immediately. "This will help ensure that both traded individuals are healthy, and our wild populations of amphibians are protected – before it’s too late”. Figures shows that in 2006
more than 131,000 live amphibians were imported into the UK, with 98 per cent for the legal pet trade. The EU has recently announced regulations on captive salamander and newt movements to
limit the spread of Bsal. The fungus originates from Asia and is believed to have entered Europe through the pet trade before spilling into wild amphibian populations. It has been
transmitted between several countries on the Continent and has recently been discovered in Spain for the first time. There are legitimate fears that disease could impact on British
amphibians in the way it has been responsible for the almost complete wipe out of a monitored population of fire salamanders in the Netherlands. Lead author for the new research, Liam
Fitzpatrick from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, explained: “Once the fungus is in a wild population it is likely to be impossible to stop its spread and the loss of susceptible species. “We
already know that Bsal can be lethal to a number of European salamander species, so understanding ways in which the fungus could be introduced to new areas is essential in our efforts to
conserve wild amphibians.” The world has already witnessed a devastating episode of huge amphibian population declines across the Americas and eastern Australia from chytrid fungi. With no
effective control measures, the fungi causes the creatures to become anorexic and lethargic before their skins thicken, making it impossible to breathe. Some frog populations have suffered
100 per cent mortality and the disease has been blamed for affecting up to a third of all species globally. For more details, see: L. D. Fitzpatrick, F. Pasmans, A. Martel. A. A. Cunningham,
Epidemiological tracing of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans identifies widespread infection. Scientific Reports. www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-31800-z