FIRST RECORD OF BATRACHOCHYTRIUM DENDROBATIDIS IN THE NORTHERN NETHERLANDS

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) infects amphibians and has been linked to the decline of hundreds of anuran amphibians all over the world. In the province of Groningen in the Netherlands, this fungal pathogen was not detected before this study. To determine whether Groningen was Bd-free, we surveyed 12 locations in this province in 2020 and 2021. Samples were then used to quantify the presence of Bd with a qPCR assay. In total, 2 out of 110 (∼0.02%) collected in 2020 and 11 out of 249 samples collected in 2021 tested positive for Bd. Infected amphibians were found in 4 out of the 12 sites, and the prevalence of Bd was estimated at 4% for both years combined. Our study provides the first record of Bd in Groningen, and we hypothesize that Bd is present throughout the Netherlands in regions currently considered "Bd-free." Furthermore, we warn scientists and policymakers to be apprehensive when calling a site free from Bd when sampling is limited or not recent.