Surveillance: Emerging disease in UK amphibians

THE recently discovered fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans is causing the rapid loss of infected fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) populations in continental Europe (Martel and others 2013). The fungus is thought to be endemic to Asia, with introduction to Europe via the pet trade. Many species of salamander and newt (urodeles) have been shown experimentally to be …