Monitoring ranavirus-associated mortality in Dutch heathland in the aftermath of an outbreak

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?

3. 3/18
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

4. 4/18
Study site
National Park Dwingelderveld
3700 ha
heathland with pools, forest and
shifting sands

5. 5/18
Study site

6. 6/18
Methods
 Fixed disease monitoring protocol for the ponds

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