<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jul/11/frog-saunas-australia-research-treatment-deadly-fungal-disease-aoe>
"A “sauna” treatment for frogs has been used by researchers in Australia to
successfully fight a deadly fungal disease that has devastated amphibians
around the world, according to a new study.
Scientists created refuges for the animals using painted masonry bricks inside
greenhouses that they called “frog saunas”. They found that endangered
Australian green and golden bell frogs were able to clear infections from the
deadly
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis fungus, in the warmer conditions of the
greenhouses, when they would otherwise have died. Many of the frogs that
recovered in the refuges were then resistant to infection.
While the technique had previously been unsuccessful for other frog species,
researchers found that the green and golden bell frog – once common in
south-eastern Australia – responded well to the treatment, a discovery that
offered hope for their future survival. Researchers said the rare amphibians
were chosen after careful testing, which found they favoured the bricks as a
habitat."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
