| Adam Hart 2008-01-29, 3:25 am |
| Endangered frogs - the vivisection connection
Posted 28 January 2008
http://tinyurl.com/27ngzh
A devastating new dossier has been published by Animal Aid which
details how the capture and transportation of frogs for the
vivisection industry has led to a worldwide epidemic that could wipe
out thousands of amphibian species in the wild.
Scientists believe that the disease Chytridiomycosis, which is caused
by a parasitic fungus, originated in southern Africa. Although the
fungus has long been common in frog populations in this area, they
have an apparent immunity to it. But in the mid 1930’s, large numbers
of African Clawed Frogs were taken from the wild and exported to
laboratories around the world for use in human pregnancy tests. By the
1950’s, the frogs were being used in developmental research,
particularly in Britain.
Sixty years on, it is estimated that around one third of African
Clawed frogs used in laboratories are still taken from the wild. And
the trade in these frogs as ‘exotic pets’ continues. Dr Matthew
Fisher, of Imperial college London said, ‘We strongly suspect BD [the
fungus] is being introduced into the UK on a daily basis through the
amphibian trade.’
Read the dossier
http://tinyurl.com/2htymc
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