Chytridiomycosis, an infectious disease that has devastated frog and other amphibian populations overseas, was confirmed in imported pets in Tokyo, the first reported case in Asia.
Though this disease will not affect humans, there is no effective measure to eradicate chytridiomycosis once it spreads in the natural environment, the experts said. Once in the wild, it is capable of ravaging ecosystems.
Chytridiomycosis was found in frogs imported from Central and South America that were kept as pets in Tokyo. Of the 35 pet frogs of 11 species, 14 died in November and December last year.
Chytridiomycosis was confirmed in 1998 as the disease that caused a drastic decline in Australia’s frog population in the 1990s.
The disease stems from the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) and causes sporadic deaths in some amphibian populations and has a 100 percent mortality rate for others, Since the Australian case, the disease has been found in areas of the United States, Central and South America, Africa and Europe.
One huge problem in eradicating the disease is that chytrid fungus can survive in water for several weeks.
Experts warn that the fungus can easily proliferate in Japan because of the country’s many mountain streams.
Via : Asahi News (Japan)
Comments
How sade ! After pollution, lake of pound and driness incrising, after problem of cars running over them beacause no one really care juste like the hedge hog,after frog eaters, these poor animals are eradicated by a deasis certainly due to pollution !!! What I don’t understand is how comb this type of animal is allowed as a pet!!!! It’s a wilde animal!!!!! no matter what the scientists say, as long as it brings money, let’s go on destroying.