A new educational campaign by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Washington) is teaching keepers of captive amphibians how to prevent the spread of an infectious disease that could decimate amphibian populations around the world.

Called Bd-Free ’Phibs, the campaign focuses on Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a fungal pathogen that causes chytridiomycosis. Its mission is to educate retailers, consumers and others who keep captive amphibians about the pathogen as well as husbandry practices that will prevent it from spreading.

At press time, the American Zoological Association was considering promoting the campaign through its “2008 Year of the Frog” program.

In addition, the San Diego Zoo and PetSmart Inc. (Phoenix) offered to work with campaign partners to develop standard quarantine, testing, disinfection and treatment protocols.

For information about BD testing and treatment as well as PIJAC’s fund-raising efforts, visit www.pijac.org. [May 2008 PET AGE]