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November 15, 1999
Frog Die-Offs Caused by Two New Infections
Mass deaths of frogs worldwide, due to two new infections, could predict far-reaching effects on
the ecosystem.
ATLANTA—Two newly discovered infections—one fungal, the other viral—may be causing
mass die-offs of frogs, sometimes to the brink of extinction, according to an article in the current
issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, CDC's peer-reviewed journal, which tracks new and
reemerging infectious diseases worldwide.
Many species of amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts) throughout the world have
declined in numbers. Some have even become extinct. Loss of habitat may have caused some of
these die-offs; however, some mass deaths have occurred in remote tropical rain forests of
Australia and Central America where human impact is minimal. Recently, two diseases have been
identified as causes of frog die-offs: a fungal infection in Australia, the United States, and Central
and South America and viral infections in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
When new infections enter a population that has no immunity, high death rates can result.
(Smallpox and measles had similar effects when Europeans introduced these diseases into native
populations in the New World.) Diseases that affect wildlife may have ripple effects throughout
the ecosystem. In many parts of the world, amphibians are an important part of the ecological
balance. Loss of species is cause for concern as a measure of the health of the environment. Like
the canary in the coal mine, amphibians may act as sentinels warning of global environmental
changes. The emergence of these two diseases may represent a new form of environmental
damage, caused when humans introduce pathogens into new habitats and wildlife populations.
For more information, contact Dr. Peter Daszak at 706-583-0527 or 706-452-1805 (fax), or by e-mail at
daszak@arches.uga.edu. Access the full article at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no6/daszak.htm. All material in Emerging Infectious
Diseases is in the public domain and may be used without special permission; proper citation,
however, is appreciated.
For more information on this or related topics, see—
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