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Herpetological Conservation International

Your donations go toward preventing the spread of harmful pathogens like chytrid and ranavirus in the wild. Be sure to watch our video for a more in-depth explanation on how simple this effort can be with your help!

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Preventing Chytrid: Here & In The Wild

By Zach Brinks, VP of Live Operations, Josh's Frogs

Chytrid is a fungal disease (caused by the organism Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) that is having huge impacts on amphibian populations worldwide. This fungus is deadly to many different species of amphibians and is easily transported on moist surfaces. It’s undoubtedly one of the largest threats to amphibians today, and you, as a responsible amphibian keeper and enthusiast, can help stop it’s spread in captivity and the wild.

How can you prevent the spread of Chytrid in captivity?

The first step to preventing the spread of chytrid in captivity is to monitor for it. Testing is pretty straightforward and available from several labs around the country. Tests run around $20, and multiple samples can be run on the same test. For more information about testing for Chytrid, check out our blog (https://www.joshsfrogs.com/catalog/blog/2014/08/test-chytrid-ranavirus/).

If a test comes back positive, it’s time to treat! Currently, the most widely used treatment is itraconazole. You’ll want to work with your vet to source this and develop a treatment plan.

It’s also important to disinfect any equipment, caging, or husbandry supplies that may have come into contact with Chytrid positive animals. Fortunately, a 5% bleach solution will effectively kill Chytrid spores. Bleach can also be used to disinfect any suspect water - a great way to ensure you’re not spreading any spores into the local environment.

How can you prevent the spread of Chytrid in the wild?

First off, follow the steps above if you have any pet amphibians! Then, it all comes down to disinfecting your field gear and clothes to prevent the spread of Chytrid from one location to another. Chytrid gets around, and can easily be carried on damp surfaces. Fortunately, it’s also pretty easy to kill! Follow these recommendations, as spelled out by Herpetological Conservation International’s Chytrid Awareness for Reserves and Ecolodges project (https://herpconservation.com/chytrid-information.html):

Option 1: 4% concentration of household bleach (chlorine bleach) - leave on object(s) for 5 minutes.

Option 2: 1% concentration of Lysol (benzalkonium chloride) - leave on object(s) for 5 minutes.

Option 3: 70% concentration of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) - allow to dry on object(s).

Option 4: 1:20 dilution of Detol Medical (Chloroxylenol 4.8%) - leave on object(s) for 5 minutes.