Dr. Patrick Cusaac and colleagues from the Amphibian Disease Laboratory have published a new paper in the Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. The research suggests that Eastern hellbenders that are exposed to both the ranavirus pathogen and Roundup herbicide have little chance of survival.
Eastern newt populations in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada are at greatest risk of infection with a new skin-eating fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), according to a study published February 18 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Matthew Gray of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, and colleagues.
Professors Matt Gray and Deb Miller’s work in the Amphibian Disease Lab centers on preventing the spread of an amphibian pathogen, Bsal, to the United States. Bsal is currently spreading across Europe, and many fear that international pet trade will bring pathogen here. With the Appalachian region being a hotspot for salamander diversity, the Miller-Gray Lab is focused on prevention, detection, and transmission pathways for the pathogen.
With the recent discovery of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) in Europe, numerous studies are attempting to understand its pathogenicity, and hopefully, ward off infections in other locations. However, there is no standard set of methodologies for studying the pathogen.
Congratulations to Ashley Reeves Wilmoth and Anastasia Towe, two of our graduate students who won awards at the 2020 UTCVM Research Day!
Dr. Trout Fryxell and colleagues have published a new paper in the International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife.
Dr. Trout Fryxell and colleages have published a new puclication on two mosquito species: Aedes albopictus oviposits with other Aedes species in artificial oviposition cups: a case study in Knox County, Tennessee, U.S.A.
UTIA’s Amphibian Disease Lab has a new publication on Plos One: Experimental methodologies can affect pathogenicity of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans infections. The research was led former undergraduate students Rajeev Kumar and Daniel Malagon.
Dr. Becky Hardman talks with Mike DiGirolamo of Mongabay about the threat of the amphibian pathogen Bsal and what’s being done to combat the spread.
Many small creatures vital to our ecosystems are threatened by a pathogen that could decimate their population. Researchers at UTIA are working to save salamanders, common throughout forest and bodies…