Gardeners are spreading lethal frog disease

GARDENERS could be inadvertently spreading a lethal frog disease by stocking suburban ponds with exotic species or moving frogspawn around, scientists have warned.

A study into the rapid spread of the infectious disease ranavirus – characterised by ulcers, red spots, the breakdown of limbs and death – found that genetic analysis suggested there were at least two separate introductions of the disease into the UK.

The research, which draws on data reported by the public in a long-running “citizen science” project, showed localised spread of ranavirus which could be down to natural movement by frogs and newts.

But the risk of disease was also higher in areas with more people, the study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B said.

The findings point to humans also playing a role, by moving frogspawn and tadpoles or even silt from other ponds or buying animals from commercial aquatic retailers.

Scientists suggested that the fashion for introducing exotic or wild animals into ornamental ponds could be exacerbating the spread of the disease.

The study was led by the Zoological Society of London and Queen Mary University of London, along with University College London and Herpetofauna Consultants International.