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Emerging infectious disease threats to European herpetofauna

Allain, Steven J. R., Duffus, Amanda L. J. (2019) Emerging infectious disease threats to European herpetofauna. The Herpetological Journal, 29 (4). pp. 189-206. ISSN 0268-0130. (doi:10.33256/hj29.4.189206) (KAR id:79365)

Abstract

In the past decade, infectious disease threats to European herpetofauna have become better understood. Since the 1990s, three major emerging infections in amphibians have been identified (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, B. salamandrivorans, and ranaviruses) as well as at least one of unknown status (herpesviruses), while two major emerging infections of reptiles (Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola and ranaviruses) have been identified in wild European populations. The effects of emerging infections on populations have ranged from non-existent to local extirpation. In this article, we review these major infectious disease threats to European herpetofauna, including descriptions of key mortality and/or morbidity events in Europe of their emergence, and address both the distribution and the host diversity of the agent. Additionally, we direct the reader to newly developed resources that facilitate the study of infectious agents in herpetofauna and again stress the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to examining these infectious diseases.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.33256/hj29.4.189206
Uncontrolled keywords: Batrachochytrium dendrobatids, B. salamandrivorans, herpesviruses, ophidiomycosis, ranaviruses, amphibians, reptiles
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Steven Allain
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2019 22:56 UTC
Last Modified: 10 Dec 2022 04:15 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/79365 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Allain, Steven J. R..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5669-0149
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