1. Monitoring ranavirus-associated mortality in
a Dutch heathland in the aftermath of an
outbreak
Annemarieke Spitzen – van der Sluijs1; Marja Kik2; Andrea Gröne2 ;
Jan van den Broek2; Frank Pasmans3; An Martel3; Jolianne Rijks2
1 Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation the Netherlands (RAVON)
2 Utrecht University & Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC)
3 Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA (27 – 29 July 2013)
2. 2/18
Introduction
2010 Common Midwife Toad Virus (CMTV) – like virus outbreak
killed thousands Pelophylax sp. and dozens Lissotriton vulgaris (Kik
et al. 2010)
Led to many questions, including:
Will ranavirus infection be sustained in this pool?
Will we witness outbreaks in neighbouring pools in 2011?
How is the water quality, are there clear triggering factors?
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Introduction
Study aim: To document ranavirus disease spatial and temporal
patterns in the year following this mass mortality event, and to
identify possible disease enhancing factors
7. 7/18
Conclusions / discussion
Continued presence in pond of 2010 outbreak, and presence in
surrounding ponds
Manifested as continuous mortality of all life stages
No clear triggering factors
8. 8/18
Acknowledgments
Pictures from:
www.digitalnature.org, D. Willems, J. Janse, B. Geutskens, J. de Jong, H. Sanders,
Google Earth, F. Spikmans
R. Popken & A. Donker (Natuurmonumenten)
Volunteers: D. Willems
Study funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs