Multisystemic emphysema (gas bubble disease)-associated acute mass mortality in a free-ranging population of common frog (Rana Temporaria) in Switzerland

Borel, Stéphanie; Origgi, Francesco (2023). Multisystemic emphysema (gas bubble disease)-associated acute mass mortality in a free-ranging population of common frog (Rana Temporaria) in Switzerland. Journal of wildlife diseases, 59(3), pp. 442-452. Wildlife Disease Association 10.7589/JWD-D-22-00147

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In April 2020, nearly 5,000 free-ranging common frogs (Rana temporaria) were found dead on the surface of the water in a retention pond in the Swiss Alps. Macroscopic and microscopic lesions revealed multisystem emphysema, affecting multiple organs. The most severe lesions were seen in the skin, eyes, and blood vessels of internal organs and were secondary to the sudden massive distension of the skin and other affected organs. All frogs had similar lesions consistent with those described associated with gas bubble disease. No obvious pre-existing conditions potentially priming the occurrence of the observed lesions could be detected. All the examined frogs were negative by PCR for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Ranavirus and Ranid Herpesvirus 3 (now Batravirus ranidallo 3). The proposed etiology is considered to be an undetermined physical event, leading to an abrupt change in the molecular or physical characteristics of the water (namely pressure and oxygen or other gas supersaturation), resulting in the occurrence of the observed lesions in the frogs. No obvious pumping system malfunction was recorded in the Mägisalp ponds before the mass mortality, but a sudden and temporary undetected change in the water flow, which then quickly rebalanced, cannot be excluded. Other hypotheses include weather conditions, such as lightning strikes in the water, or a device detonating in the water.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP)
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Institute for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI)

UniBE Contributor:

Borel, Stéphanie, Origgi, Francesco

Subjects:

600 Technology > 630 Agriculture

ISSN:

1943-3700

Publisher:

Wildlife Disease Association

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

05 Jun 2023 16:42

Last Modified:

15 Jul 2023 00:15

Publisher DOI:

10.7589/JWD-D-22-00147

PubMed ID:

37269297

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Anurans gas bubble disease gas supersaturated water oxygen supersaturated water wildlife

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/183171

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/183171

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