The Diagnostics Working Group
Amphibian species across the globe are experiencing catastrophic population declines, and the alarmingly rapid spread of several emerging infectious diseases is pushing many species towards extinction.
The alarms bells have been sounded, and scientists around the world are working to mount a response to the urgent threat of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in amphibians. The North American BSal Task Force formed in 2015 to coordinate activities and share knowledge among more than 20 nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and state and provincial agencies. The goal of the Task Force is developing comprehensive strategic plan for detecting and preventing the establishment of amphibian EIDs in North America. The Task Force established seven working groups to support its mission.
​
The Diagnostics Working Group
The DxWG promotes the development of standards for diagnosis and reporting of amphibian EIDs among the wildlife health community, with the salamander chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) as the primary focus. We serve as a forum to exchange ideas and work out the challenges involved in Bsal detection and to provide expert advice to the rest of the Bsal Task Force regarding the viability and pitfalls of traditional and new tools for Bsal detection and diagnosis.
​
The establishment of a long term program for inter-laboratory quality control and evaluation of protocols for the detection of wildlife pathogens, particularly Batrachochytium dendrobatidis (Bd) and BSal, is our top priority. We also aim to develop standardized and replicable methods that will allow comparison across studies and determine a reliable estimation of presence and/or prevalence and Bd and Bsal load in the wild.
Working Group Members
The Diagnostics Working Group (DxWG) is composed of professionals with expertise in the application and interpretation of an array of diagnostic tools. Our members work in academia, diagnostic laboratories and government agencies throughout North America and are involved in detection and reporting of amphibian diseases, including BSal.
​
​
Dr. Maria Forzan
Cornell University, USA
Dr. Julie Ellis
University of Pennsylvania, USA
Dr. Dan Grear
National Wildlife Health Center, USA
Dr. Jeff Lorch
National Wildlife Health Center, USA
Dr. Robert Ossiboff
University of Florida, USA
Dr. Hamad-Schifferli
University of Massachusetts, USA
Dr. Carly Muletz Wolz
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, USA
Dr. Matt Allender
University of Illinois, USA
Dr. Heather Fenton
Northwest Territories, Canada
Dr. Jacob Kerby
University of South Dakota, USA
Dr. An Martel
Ghent University, Belgium
Dr. Frank Passmans
Ghent University, Belgium
Laura Sprague
US Fish & Wildlife Service, USA
Dr. John Wood
Pisces Molecular, USA
Dr. Cherie Briggs
University of California, USA
Dr. Leon Grayfer
George Washington University, USA
Mr. Steven Lloyd
Zoologix Inc., USA
Dr. Deb Miller
University of Tennessee, USA
Dr. Allan Pessier
Washington State University, USA
Dr. LeAnn White
National Wildlife Health Center, USA