Report on the First Global Amphibian and Reptile Disease (GARD) Conference 2022

Abstract

The first Global Amphibian and Reptile Disease Conference took place 4-10 August 2022 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. More than 230 professionals from 25 countries on 6 continents discussed the most important pathogens in amphibians and reptiles in a combined in-person and virtual conference that included 8 keynotes, 5 focal talks, 105 oral presentations, and 31 poster presentations as well as 6 workshops and 4 field trips. In total, over 15 pathogens were discussed. The largest number of talks were on chytrid fungi (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans) in amphibians, ranaviruses in amphibians and reptiles, the snake fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola, and the emerging pentastomid Raillietiella orientalis.