Diseases and Parasites of Herpetofauna

Downloadable information sheets produced by the SEPARC Disease Task Team. The task team's goal is to increase awareness of herpetofaunal pathogens and the occurrence of disease-related die-offs of herpetofauna in the Southeast. 

The Task Team develops information sheets on common herpetofaunal pathogens, protocol for collecting and shipping diseased animals, and instructions on disinfecting field equipment.

Information sheets developed by this team on pathogens of amphibians and reptiles and their collecting/shipping protocols are available for online viewing and download:

1. Duffus, A.L.J., J. T. Hoverman, D. L. Miller, A.W. Dean, J.M, Klaus, and M.J. Gray. 2013. Ranavirus Infections in North American Amphibians. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #1R2.

2. Becker, M. H., A. Vonhandorf and R. Brenes. 2013. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: An emerging amphibian pathogen. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #2.

3. Hoverman, J. T. 2009. The bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila in amphibian populations. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #3.

4. Hamed, M. K. 2009. The trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae in southeastern amphibians. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #4.

5. Cook, J. O. 2009. An alveolate agent in southeastern amphibians. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #5.

6. Adams, C. K. 2009. Threat of Saprolegnia to southeastern amphibians. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #6.

7. Baxley, D. 2009. Fungal diseases in southeastern snakes. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #7.

8. Gonynor, J. L., and M. J. Yabsley. 2009. Mycoplasma related upper respiratory tract disease in gopher and desert tortoises. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #8.

9. Miller, D. L., and M. J. Gray. 2009. Collecting and shipping specimens for diagnostic testing. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #9.

10. Horner, A. A., Miller, D. L., and M. J. Gray. 2016. Disinfection of field equipment and personal gear. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #10R.

11. McGuire, J. L, and D. L. Miller. 2012. Ranavirus in Chelonians. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #11.

12. McGuire, J. L. 2012. Mycoplasma alligatoris in American alligators. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #12.

13. Calatayud, N. 2012. Endocrine Disruptors and Amphibians. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #13.

14. Miller, D. L. 2012. Viruses in Alligators. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #14.

15. Gray, M. J., D. L. Miller, and A. L. J. Duffus. 2013. Pathogen surveillance, data analysis, and biosecurity techniques. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Diseases, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team. Presentation #1.

16. Greenspan, S. E., J. L. McGuire, and D. L. Miller. 2013. Hellbenders in decline. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #15.

17. Duffus, A.L.J, C.M. Jackson, and A.M. Andrews. 2013. Dermocystidium (Amphibiocystidium) Infections in Amphibians. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #16.

18. Goodman R. 2013. Ranaviruses in Squamates. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #17.

19. Allender, M. 2013. Snake Fungal Disease: Frequently Asked Questions. Northeastern Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, NEPARC-2013-02.

20. Pierson, T. W., and A. A. Horner. 2016. Environmental DNA sampling for amphibian pathogens. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #19.

21. Gray, M.J., Duffus, A.L.J., Haman, K.H., Harris, R.N., Allender, M.C., Thompson, T.A., Christman, M.R., Sacerdote-Velat, A., Sprague, L.A., Williams, J.M., and D. L. Miller. 2017. Pathogen Surveillance in Herpetofaunal Populations: Guidance on Study Design, Sample Collection, Biosecurity, and Intervention Strategies. Herpetological Review. 48:334-351.

22. Duffus, A.L.J., Fenton, H.M.A., Gray, M.J., and D.L. Miller. 2017. Investigating amphibian and reptile moralities: A practical guide for wildlife professionals. Herpetological Review. 48:550-557.

23. Pereira, K.E, Cusaac, J.P.W. 2018. Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans: An emerging amphibian pathogen. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #18R.

24. Atkinson, M.S. 2019. The Protistan Pathogen Perkinsea (a.k.a. Dermomycoides, Perkinsus-like organism, and alveolate pathogen) and its Impact on Southeastern Amphibians. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease, Pathogens and Parasites Task Team, Information Sheet #20.

25. Disinfection Protocol. SEPARC DTT Briefs #1

26. Duffus, A.L.J., J.T. Hoverman, D.L. Miller, N.K. Stilwell, P.L. Bartlett and M.J. Gray. 2021. Ranavirus Infections in North American Amphibians. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Disease Task Team, Information Sheet #1R3

27. Duffus, A.L.J., Stilwell, N.K., Bartlett, P.L., and R.M. Goodman. 2021. Ranaviruses in Wild Reptiles in the USA. Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Disease Task Team, Information Sheet #17R1

28. Godwin, C.D., and A.S. Romer. 2021. Snake Fungal Disease in Southeastern Snake Populations. SEPARC DTT, Information Sheet #21

View task team announcements and discussions and download task team meeting summaries from past SEPARC Annual Meetings from the Diseases, Pathogens & Parasites of Herpetofauna Task Team section of the SEPARC website.