Low-cost Health Screening for Amphibians in Zoo Collections
Wildlife Disease Laboratories at the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research are pleased to be able to offer low-cost testing for the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Ranaviruses in zoo collections.
The testing is subsidized by an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership grant “Infectious Disease Control and Bioresource Banking for the Amphibian Extinction Crisis” awarded to the San Diego Zoo and Zoo Atlanta.
The goal of the subsidized testing is to encourage widespread surveillance of zoo collections for these potentially population-limiting infectious diseases. Hopefully, these efforts will facilitate eradication of chytrid fungal infections from established zoo collections and enable the collection of data of the occurrence and prevalence of these diseases that is needed to make use of disease risk assessment tools for reintroduction programs.
The laboratory is also able to provide assistance in working up outbreaks of infectious diseases in captive collections (especially molecular diagnostic testing) working together with your facility veterinarian and pathologist.
Available Tests:
1. Real-Time (Taqman) PCR for Amphibian Chytrid Fungus
2. Conventional PCR for Ranavirus
Tests are U.S. $10.00 each for zoos and aquariums.
Download submission form here.
Submission Form
Submission_Form.pdf (pdf)
Download Chytrid Protocol Guidelines here.
Questions can be addressed to:
Dr. Allan Pessier
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
619-231-1515, Ext 4510
