The recent emergence of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans(Bsal) in Europe, with devastating effects on salamander populations, requires the implementation of urgent mitigation measures. In general, any abatement plan should be oriented towards preventing Bsal introduction in Bsal free regions, developing emergency action plans and early warning systems and limiting the negative impact of Bsal in regions where it has been introduced already on the long term and using sustainable approaches. The latter will be the main topic of my presentation.
Results/Conclusions
Although a large number of possible measures can be derived from research into the related Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, few realistic options are available to limit the impact of Bsal on European amphibian diversity and none of these can currently be implemented in the field with any reasonable chance of success. Potential measures can be aimed at all three cornerstones of the disease triangle: decreasing pathogen virulence (eg by treatment of infected animals and reduction of Bsal reservoirs), improving host defenses (eg by immunization or selective breeding of resistant strains) or creating a Bsal hostile environment (eg by increasing Bsal predating organisms, the use of environmental decontamination). I will discuss how potentially viable measures could be developed for future implementation.