Some species of amphibian can act as symptomless vectors (i.e. carriers) of the fungus, which was originally described from infections in dendrobatid dart frogs but is one of the most important causes of the current amphibian mass extinction and infects a wide range of amphibian species in all three orders (frogs/toads - anura -, newts/salamanders - caudata -, and caecilians - gymnophiona-). A good example of this is the American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), but without laboratory tests (tissue samples etc) there is no way of knowing if an animal is positive for BD until it is very ill.
BD is one of a number of amphibian diseases linked with population declines, many of which are very opportunistic and can infect a range of non-amphibian hosts.
Many of these diseases can suddenly appear when infected animals are stressed.
Amphibians do not respond to new environments like we do; they do not enjoy it, but rather are stressed by it. Pachytriton (paddle-tail newts) are territorial and removal from territories established in their captive enclosure is disorientating and stresful.
I appreciate that letting your newts 'run free' for a little while might seem like a good idea, but do you see why it might be bad for both your animals and for the environment. No-one is accusing you of deliberately damaging the laurel forests, but, having read some of the responses, do you appreciate why people on this forum are concerned by you putting your animals, even temporarily, into your local habitat?
Chris
