Hey guys... If you take wild amphibians into your home...how can you make sure they don't have chytrid fungus? Like how would you treat them for it¿
For testing im pretty sure you can buy a kit from josh's frogs but after you do the swabs im pretty sure you still have to send it out afterwards for the results. That or a vet. For treatment im not a hundred percent sure but if you don't know if they have it I wouldn't just treat them for it. From what I understand the treatment is very hard on them.
It's not really a problem in the east coast. Many species are immune to it.
0.1.0 Pseudacris regilla (r.i.p. Green Beauty)
0.0.1 Bufo boreas boreas? (r.i.p. )
0.0.4 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
Yes, but that doesn't mean take them for an extremely expensive vet visit when there's no reason to suspect that they're ill. I don't even think that American toads (assuming that's the species in question) are susceptible to chytrid. There haven't been any die offs or anything.
Hi, if you end up finding out that vet is going to charge for each individual frog and you want to test for chytrid I just checked josh's frogs and you can buy a Chytrid and ranavirus 2 in 1 kit for 6.99. Im not sure were you send it but I would imagine it would have the labs were you could send it somewhere in or on the packaging for the test.
Strider is correct here. Bd is widespread, can infect American toads, can be asymptomatic in some species/populations. This makes it a concern for introducing any new animals into a collection or if breeding.
Here is some info:
great overview in practical and layman terms (mentions presence in American toads):
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/...ts/chytrid.pdf
https://chytridcrisis.wordpress.com/...dendrobatidis/
http://www.amphibiaweb.org/chytrid/c...iomycosis.html
Before you take the toad to the vet (saving costs) you could test for Bd yourself using the kit from Josh's Frogs, Genesis Exotics, or similar. The test involves swabbing the animal with a sterile swab and then sending the sample to a test lab (PCR test).
http://www.joshsfrogs.com/amphibian-...-test-kit.html
https://www.genesisexotics.com/herp-health.html
The testing in these kits is usually both for Bd and ranavirus and both kits have you send it to Research Associates Lab. The cost of each test is $18 additional so total cost is kit + shipping + test fees. You can also send your own samples (not buy the kit) if you have sterile swabs and gloves and download the sample submission form from Research Associates Lab (use the reptile one) One swab is needed for each test requested.
http://www.vetdna.com/application/fo...issionform.pdf
Josh's Frogs has a You Tube video demonstrating how to use the swabs to get samples for testing, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L4DYlcxOYo
If you have multiple animals in one enclosure to test then you can just swab a couple of the animals in the enclosure with the swab. All animals in the enclosure with have Bd if present.
Treatment for Bd varies depending on the animal and it's tolerances. The most popular are heat treatment (for heat tolerant species), or itraconazole (requires prescription from vet) baths. Instead of using itraconazole , others have used over the counter Lamisil Foot Spray (Terbinafine) baths.
see:
http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Chytrid_fungus
and the other references I gave above describing treatment and hygiene practices during testing/treatment to prevent spread/reinfection.
Dr. David Frye is a vet in the midwest that specializes in frogs/amphibians. I've never used him but he apparently will answer emails and I think that he may also write or order prescriptions that can be sent to your local vet / picked up there even if you don't live in MI.
Here is his info:
http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/ven...al-fecals.html
Testing fecals is the second type of test that you should run and will test for parasites.
http://www.doylesdartden.com/AGD_31.html
Treatment is usually with fenbendazole (Panacur®) or ivermectin (Ivomec®)
I hope that this helps you make up your mind and decide your plans. I wouldn't risk infecting other captive animals with WC specimens by not testing/treating.
I get the impression that Deku doesn't have any other amphibians yet. (Not sure if that's true of course.) But if you can really get a chytrid test for 7 bucks it certainly couldn't hurt.
Need to clarify that the Josh's Frogs and Genesis Exotics test kit DO NOT include shipping and testing fee....they are merely the gloves, swabs, mailing envelope, form, directions.
The total cost of Bd testing at Research Associates Lab using these kits would be kit + shipping + test fees.
As an estimate, this would be approximately $7 for kit + $6 for USPS Priority flat rate envelope shipping + $18 for Bd test only (no Rana testing)......so approximately around the $31 mark.
You can bring this down to the approximately $24 mark if you use your own supplies rather than the kit.
I was wondering were the $18 dollars came from. L.O.L I was thinking I was just on there and it said $6.99. I was wondering if I was going crazy or something.
thanks guys
Here is some additional useful reference material for anyone keeping amphibians:
Bd, ranavirus, and parasite : background, treatment, hygiene concerns, best practices from Amphibian Ark.
http://www.amphibianark.org/pdf/Husb...0Baitchman.pdf
The treatment for Chytrid is not all that hard on frogs (I had to give my crew treatment as a preventative) but there is always the possibility it could be, as with any medication. There's been some great info given here in this thread; definitely do your research on bD and don't ever let anyone make you think this is not something to be taken VERY seriously. You want to do everything you can to protect your frogs now and in the future.
Mom to these fine frogs!
4.4.0 White's tree frogs (Litoria caerulea): Sir Honey Lime, Bok & Choi, Martha, Shirley, Leapin' Loo and Ping & Pong; 0.2.1 Amazon Milk Frogs (Trachycephalus resinifictrix): Otto & Echo and Pip-Squeak aka Tiny
2.0.0 South American Bird Poo Frogs (Hyla marmorata): Ribbit & Rupert
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