Glossary and abbreviations

Chytridiomycosis The state of being infected with B. dendrobatidis. Amphibians can have chytridiomycosis without showing clinical signs (aclinical chytridiomycosis) or can show clinical signs (mild, severe) or death. The term was proposed by Berger et al (1998).

DEH Department of the Environment and Heritage

Epidemiology The study of disease in populations.

Host specificity The degree to which an infectious agent remains confined to one species of host or taxonomically related hosts. Low host specificity means that the infectious agent can infect many species of host, or species of host that are not closely related taxonomically.

PC2 Physical Containment level 2 describes the minimum standard for construction and the general responsibilities and guidelines for safety in laboratories where micro-organisms are handled. The standard is defined in the Australian Standard AS/NZS 2243.3:2002 - Safety in Laboratories Part 3: Microbiological Aspects and Containment Facilities

PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction: a diagnostic test using a molecular biological technique to manufacture additional DNA strands from small numbers of DNA strands in the original specimen

Prevalence The percent of the population with the disease or condition of interest at a particular point in time

Real-time PCR A PCR test that is able to quantify the amount of DNA present in the original sample

Sensitivity The probability of testing positive if chytridiomycosis is present

TAP Threat Abatement Plan