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hygiene protocol for field studies

Worldwide, amphibians are undergoing significant population declines due to chytridiomycosis, an emerging disease caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( bd). Catastrophic declines have been observed in Australia, North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. In Europe, mass mortalities related to Bd were observed in Spain and France, but our knowledge about the prevalence of Bd in Europe are still only fragmentary.

The exact causes of the recent emergence of chytridiomycosis are still unclear. Nonetheless, scientists agree today that this fungus was recently spread worldwide via equipment which has been in contact with Bd, water containing zoospores or infected amphibians (especially during the introduction of exotic species). Human activities, in or near aquatic sites, are therefore strongly to the spread of fungus and represent a major risk for amphibian populations. If an infected individual can be effectively treated with a fungicide, the fungus can not be controlled, so far, in the natural environment. Nevertheless, some simple procedures to allow disinfection to decontaminate equipment, which significantly reduces the risk that the fungus is passively transferred when traveling.

A hygiene protocol was developed and validated by a team of researchers participating in a European research project on Bd protocol was translated into French and can download it by clicking the following link:

Protocol hygiene Bd (pdf, 954 KB)

The objective of this document is to provide persons working on amphibians, or more broadly in the aquatic environment, a set of precautionary measures to implement in their field campaigns. Although focused on chytridiomycosis, these precautions will also reduce the spread of other diseases or invasive plant and animal species.

Some of these procedures can be applied in laboratories and farms, but it is necessary that those involved will confer with veterinary legislation. Biosecurity measures for captive amphibians could differ from those proposed for the land.

If you watch (or have seen during previous years) the mortality of amphibians, without apparent cause, thank you notify us as soon as possible. You will find on this website all information on this "warning amphibian.

Thanks in advance for kindly circulate this information to your network.

Please distribute this memorandum around you, and take the lead in the competition law field, remain vigilant and good observations.