Emerging Diseases Working Group Plans

The purpose of the emerging diseases working group is to establish protocols for monitoring baseline health and disease prevalence in reptile and amphibian populations in the northeast region. We are preparing descriptions of the key features and monitoring approaches for the amphibians chytrid fungus Batrachochytridium dendrobatidis as well as the Ranavirus, species which infect amphibians, eastern box turtles, and fish. In addition, we are preparing protocols to avoid transfer of these infectious diseases between different sites. This information will be posted on the NEPARC website.