Preventing disease or treating it early is the best way to combat illness in amphibians. Because amphibians often live in warm, moist conditions—the same conditions that let bacteria and molds grow—proper care and housing are vital. Poor water quality, bad diet, improper setup, crowding, and excessive handling can lead to illness. Good sanitation and hygiene are essential.
Amphibians can develop disease via infection with the following types of organisms:
bacteria
fungi
parasites
viruses
Bacterial infections are usually caused by opportunistic bacteria that normally exist in the environment. Such bacteria can become a problem when the balance of organisms in the enclosure is disrupted by changes in temperature, diet, crowding, or cleanliness. Common bacterial diseases in amphibians include chlamydiosis, red-leg syndrome, and mycobacteriosis. Treatment includes strict hygiene and medications, often given as dips or baths prescribed by a veterinarian.
Infectious Diseases of Amphibians
Disease | Organism | Symptoms | Treatment | Can It Spread to Humans? | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bacterial diseases | |||||
Chlamydiosis | Several species of Chlamydia | Weakness, loss of balance, change of skin color, red spots, swelling | Antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian | Yes | |
Red-leg syndrome | Aeromonas species, Pseudomonas species, many types of bacteria | Redness of legs and sometimes the abdomen, swelling | Antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian | No | Can be caused by any infection |
Mycobacteriosis | Several species of Mycobacteria | Grey lumps on skin, weight loss | Varies and not always recommended. Consult a veterinarian. Isolation of infected animals | Yes, to people with weakened immune systems or open wounds | Can infect internal organs Can spread to people with weakened immune systems |
Fungal diseases | |||||
Chytridiomycosis | Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis | Loss of appetite, weight loss, excessive shedding, pale or grayish skin | Antifungals prescribed by a veterinarian. Consult a vet immediately. | No | Severe disease that can wipe out an entire amphibian population in days |
Chromomycosis | Various fungal organisms from soil, wood, plants | White, brown, or black nodules on skin, neurologic signs such as loss of balance | Antifungals prescribed by a veterinarian Sanitation | No | Preventable with proper sanitation |
Saprolegniasis | Saprolegnia species and similar fungi/molds | Whitish, cottonlike skin growths that can turn greenish | Antifungals and dips prescribed by a veterinarian Sanitation | No | Affects aquatic species and immature amphibians |
Parasitic diseases | |||||
Cutaneous capillariasis (flaky skin disease) | Roundworm (Pseudocapillaroides xenopi) | Rough or pitted skin, skin sores | Parasiticidal medication prescribed by a veterinarian Sanitation | No | Affects African clawed frogs |
Rhabdiasis | Lungworm (Rhabdias species) | Breathing difficulty | Parasiticidal medication prescribed by a veterinarian Sanitation Relocation | No | Lung damage allows bacterial respiratory infections and pneumonia |
Viral diseases | |||||
Ranavirus | Iridovirus species | Abnormal behavior, swelling, skin sores, red-leg syndrome, other bacterial or fungal infections | No treatment available Often fatal | No | Weakens immune system, leading to secondary infections Can cause kidney tumors in leopard frogs |
Symptoms of fungal disease can look similar to those of bacterial disease. As with bacterial infections, treatment of fungal disease involves strict hygiene and medications, often given as dips or baths prescribed by a vet. Common fungal diseases include chytridiomycosis, chromomycosis, and saprolegniasis.
Parasites, such as certain species of roundworm and lungworm, can become harmful when amphibians are stressed or kept outside of their preferred temperature ranges.
Viral infections have no specific cures. supportive treatment with fluids, supplemental feeding, and isolation or replacing the population may be needed to stop the spread of fungal disease. Ranavirus is an example of a virus commonly affecting amphibians and is often fatal.
