Cane Toads

A parasitic worm may be the latest weapon in Australia's fight against the invasive cane toads. (News source.)

Sydney's Australian Museum is drawing the ire of Northern Territory residents because it put up husbandry instructions for cane toads. (News source.)

Salmonella: Case Closed?

A baby in the UK contracted salmonella, and the mother's internet search led to the conclusion that the pet snake was involved... Just a reminder, but many other animals and food products can carry the bacteria. I'd trust a medical report over a quick internet search...

How Fungus Kills Frogs

Recent research shows how, exactly, frogs are killed when infected with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis fungus.

Investigation Continues

The gharial deaths in India are still a mystery, though the colder weather recently may have helped abate the problem a little bit. (News source.)

Fish Poisoning Gharials?

A crocodile expert suggests that toxins accumulating in the skin of tilapia are poisoning India's gharials. (News source.)

UK: Natterjack Concerns

Chytrid fungus has been found in Walney, Cumbria, raising concerns for the local natterjack toad population. (News source.)

Gharial Investigation Continues

Live gharials are been captured and tested to acquire baseline data, so that researchers can figure out what's killing the species in India. (News source.)

"Post mortem analysis of dead Gharials found ulcerated lesions in the stomach and some inflammation in the intestine. Absence of external injuries rules out accidental death or poaching. Toxicological and pathological examination of the organs of the dead gharials by the IVRI, Bareilly, and ITRC, Lucknow found lead concentrations between 0.7-1.4 ppm. Liver and kidney tissues indicate degenerative changes. Presence of various stages of protozoan parasite was also detected. Autopsies conducted on 4 dead gharials on 27th January, 2008 revealed significant gout – both visceral and articulate. Even the feet and tail joints had uric acid deposits. Gout is indicative of kidney failure as a result of toxic poisoning or disease. However, the gharials seemed in good health condition with fat deposits."

CDC Report on Turtle Salmonella

The CDC is fighting back against proposals to allow turtle sales, recently releasing a report that points to turtles being responsible for illness in 33 states. (News source.)

Gharial Deaths Continue

The Indian gharial epidemic continues, with over 100 dying on the Chambal river in the last 6 weeks. The cause is still unknown, but lead traces have been found in some bodies. (News source.)

Turtle Amendment Passed?

I haven't really kept up on this, but the Natchez Democrat is reporting that the recently passed Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (H.R. 2419) included an amendment repealing the small turtle sales ban (though noting there may be an effort to repeal the repeal). Turtle farms now process eggs to eradicate Salmonella (or some do, anyway; I'd like to see confirmation that all turtle farms do this). The process goes:

"Once the turtles start to lay their eggs on the levees around the turtle ponds, the eggs are gathered daily, and all dirt is removed from the eggs before they are soaked for 10 minutes in a water and Clorox solution.
"After that, they are cleaned in a commercial washer.
"'We run them through an egg washer manufactured for chicken eggs,' Evans said.
"Once washed, the eggs are placed in a special vacuum tank to eradicate any salmonella. After that, they are placed in incubation trays until they hatch, at which time a state veterinarian certifies they are salmonella free."

[Note: Here is the amendment in question, the Domestic Pet Turtle Equality Act.]

Nutrient Pollution Drives Parasitic Infections

Amphibian deformities derived from parasitic infections are driven by nutrient pollution (increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus), according to a new study. The nutrients cause algal blooms, which increase the number of snails, which release more parasitic trematodes, which form cysts in amphibians, causing developmental anomalies. (News source.)

Gharial Mortality

21 endangered gharials have died recently in the Chambal River, India, possibly due to bacterial disease (though uncertain.) Conservationists are alarmed. (News source.)

Sea Turtle News

First, a profile on a eco-tourism sea turtle nesting site in Suriname.

Second, red tide is being blamed for the deaths of 14 juvenile green sea turtles this week. (News source.)

Goldfish Bringing Disease to UK Frogs

Goldfish bred in US farms and imported into the UK appear to be spreading red-leg disease. (News source.)

Frog Fungus Cure

New Zealand scientists have discovered that chytrid-infested frogs dipped in Chloramphenicol (currently a human eye medication) are cured, and become resistant to the disease. (News source.)

Frogs and Rainforest Clearings

Clearings created for powerlines in the rainforest may be helping to curb the spread of an amphibian fungal disease. (News source.)

CDC and Turtle-Based Salmonella

The CDC has released a report describing 22 cases of turtle-based salmonellosis in 2006 and 2007. One case involved the fatality of a three-week-old child. Interestingly, the report comes out while an attempt is being made by some legislators to lift the CDC ban on small turtle sales. (News source.)

Bacteria Shows Potential for Amphibian Protection

Of several reasons cited for amphibian species decline around the world, the chytridiomycosis fungus is particularly devastating. A bacteria (Pedobacter cryoconitis) found on red-backed salamanders, however, appears to ward off the fungus. Researchers at James Madison University have isolated the bacteria and are conducting experiments that show some early success. Much has yet to be done, but there is potential for a "vaccine" in the future. (News source.)