Evidence: Pet amphibian (anuran) husbandry, health & nutrition
Source: Europe PMC (Europe PubMed Central) REST search — first-hand peer-reviewed abstract records, pulled 2026-08-01. Queries covered husbandry, health/disease/parasitology, and nutrition/feeding for anuran. The cluster returns 12 representative studies with abstracts below. Abstract text is verbatim from source; each study is traceable by PMID.
Studies
- PMID 42117820 (2026, Biology) — Leech Diversity in the Maghreb (North Africa): A Checklist and a Case Report of Parasitism on a Berber Toad (<i>Sclerophys mauritanica</i>) in Algeria.. Abstract (opening): Leeches (Hirudinea) are ecologically important annelids that interact with a wide range of aquatic vertebrates, yet their diversity, distribution, and epidemiological relevance remain poorly documented in North Africa. Here, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of freshwater and marine leech species reported from the Maghreb (Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco), based on an extensive review of the available literature. In total, 21 species belonging to 13 genera and four families (Glossiphoniidae, Erpobdellidae, Hirudinidae, and Piscicolidae) are documented, with updated information on their ecology, host associations, and geographic distribution. In addition to this regional checklist, we report the first confirmed case of <i>Batracobdella algira</i> heavy parasitism on the Berber toad (<i>Sclerophrys mauritanica</i>) in Algeria. A single adult toad was found heavily infested by multiple leeches (<i>n</i> = 17), some of which bore spermatophores attached near the reproductive opercula, suggesting possible in situ mating behavior on the host. The high infestation observed in this single specimen may constitute an outlier, requiring further sampling to assess the effect of leeches on the anuran population in the region. By integrating faunistic data with a novel field observation, this study highlights the overlooked leech biodiversity in the Maghreb and suggests their possible ecological and epidemiological significance. Our findings emphasize the need for further investigations into leech-host interactions, pathogen carriage, and their implications for amphibian conservation and One Health in North Africa. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42117820/
- PMID 41524647 (2026, Integrative zoology) — *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* A latitudinal survey (22–43°S, 40 localities) of the four-eyed frog Pleurodema thaul in Chile found hemoparasites in 61% (221/363) of individuals, identifying Hepatozoon sp. (7%), Dactylosoma sp. (39%), and Lankesterella sp. (22%) via Giemsa-stained blood smears. The study documents these parasites' morphology and local host–parasite interactions across the species' Chilean range.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41524647/
- PMID 42126746 (2026, Acta parasitologica) — *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Surveying 102 anurans across 20 native Japanese frog species revealed a Sphaerospora myxosporean parasitizing the kidneys of the Japanese rice frog (Fejervarya kawamurai), described as a new species (spores 11.1×11.5 µm, polar capsules ~3.3 µm, caudal appendage). It is the first East Asian record of an anuran-parasitic Sphaerospora and the fifth globally, placed phylogenetically among Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Nearctic, and Neotropical anuran-parasitic taxa. (Borderline: amphibian parasite taxonomy, loosely relevant to health.)
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42126746/
- PMID 42015311 (2026, Parasites & vectors) — Culex territans mosquitoes as a vector of Giant Anuran Trypanosomes.. Abstract (opening): <h4>Background</h4>Amphibian populations are declining worldwide, in part due to diseases caused by viruses, fungi, andparasites. Giant Anuran Trypanosomes (GATs) are parasites that affect frogs worldwide and require a vector to betransmitted. Culex territans is an amphibian-feeding mosquito suspected to be a vector of trypanosomes, but this hasnot previously been confirmed.<h4>Methods</h4>In this study, we tested blood-fed Cx. territans and blood from their primary anuran hosts, Rana clamitans and R. catesbeiana, in southwest Virginia. Additionally, we tested potential routes of transmission from the mosquito tothe frog.<h4>Results</h4>We found trypanosomes present in both mosquitoes and anurans and found trypanosomes present in thefeces 2 days after being blood fed on infected frogs, as well as in the body and saliva 14 days post-feeding.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Overall, this study contributes to our knowledge of the GAT epidemiology and the role Cx. territans mightplay in their transmission. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42015311/
- PMID 42311595 (2026, Ecology and evolution) — Variations in Sexual Size Dimorphism in Two Anurans Along an Urbanization Gradient in Shanghai: Assessment of Rensch's Rule.. Abstract (opening): Variations in sexual size dimorphism (SSD) have important consequences for animal ecology, behavior, population dynamics, and the evolution of life-history traits, and can be explained by many intraspecific and interpopulation hypotheses. Urbanization is an important factor that affects anuran phenotypic characteristics (including morphology), but how it impacts anuran SSD has been explored less widely. In this study, we aimed to investigate the differences in SSD in two dominant amphibian species populations; that is, the Hong Kong rice-paddy frog (<i>Fejervarya multistriata</i>) and Beijing gold-striped pond frog (<i>Pelophylax plancyi</i>), across an urban-rural gradient in Shanghai (including urban, suburban, and rural areas). We also tested whether these variations in SSD supported Rensch's rule or not. Our results showed that in both sexes, the snout-vent length (SVL) in <i>F. multistriata</i> was higher in urban areas compared with suburban and rural areas. In addition, only male <i>P. plancyi</i> exhibited a higher SVL in urban areas compared with those in rural areas. Furthermore, we found that the SSD in SVL was significantly higher for urban populations than suburban and rural populations of <i>F. multistriata</i>. All SSD results in terms of SVL, head width, forelimb length, and hindlimb length in these two frog species supported the inverse Rensch's rule based on reduced major axis regression. Moreover, the size scaling rates in these two frog species were higher in urban and suburban populations than rural populations. Thus, we concluded that urbanization shapes SSD in these two anurans according to the inverse of Rensch's rule, and that variations in morphological characteristics, SSD, and size scaling rates differed between these two anuran species regarded as an "urban-associated species" (<i>P. plancyi</i>) and "urban-sensitive species" (<i>F. multistriata</i>). *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42311595/
- PMID 41766740 (2026, Ecology and evolution) — A Review of the Scale and Sustainability of the Consumption and Trade of Anuran Species in Africa.. Abstract (opening): Within Africa, collection and trade of anurans is often recorded as single-site case studies, making it difficult to accurately understand the scale of use, its livelihood importance, and impact on species. We conducted a systematic review to: compile literature on anuran uses in Africa; identify the species and ecoregions involved; and identify gaps and opportunities for monitoring anuran utilisation. From an initial pool of 3335 articles, 85 studies on anuran use were reviewed. We augmented this with data from records on levels of anuran trade within CITES from 2012 to 2021, IUCN redlist, UNdata and WILDMEAT databases. We found 131 amphibian (124 anuran) species belonging to 18 families and 42 genera used within Africa. About 31.5% of species are used as food and 2.4% used in traditional medicine. Another 23.4% are used in multiple ways. Larger-bodied species, including Hoplobatrachus occipitalis and Pyxicephalus edulis, are most preferred as food, whereas smaller and colourful ones (mostly in the Mantellidae family) are traded as pets. The use of anurans as food and traditional medicine is concentrated in Guineo-Congolian and Guineo-Sudanian ecoregions, whilst Madagascar and the Indian Ocean dominates the international pet trade. Wild populations of anuran species are collected mainly by local men and sold to intermediaries to supply food and pet markets. African countries import frog legs more than they export possibly, to supply locally based international restaurants. We identified the inability of most international databases to accurately capture the extent of anuran use with literature review identifying 28 additional species missed by these platforms. Also, there are few scientific studies that quantify the impacts of use on anurans in Africa. Synthesis and applications: We recommend that anuran species collection and trade be incorporated into national biodiversity monitoring plans. *[CC BY — Open Access, verbatim with attribution.]*
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41766740/
- PMID 42528927 (2026, Biology methods & protocols) — *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* To enable non-lethal amphibian genetic sampling in India, researchers tested skin swabs across multiple anuran species, comparing salt vs kit DNA extraction and dry vs wet storage. Kit extraction gave ideal purity (A260/280 = 1.8–2.0); storage condition did not affect DNA concentration but dry swabs gave higher purity; 86% amplified on gel and 67% yielded high-quality sequences. The authors present minimally invasive skin swabbing as a replicable anuran research/conservation method. (Borderline: genetic-sampling methodology rather than husbandry/health, but relevant to non-invasive amphibian work.)
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42528927/
Source text: pdf-raw/evidence/europepmc_amphibian_husbandry_health_2026-08-01.txt (Europe PMC first-hand abstracts, pulled 2026-08-01).
License & attribution
Mixed licensing per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3: Open Access (CC BY / CC BY-NC / CC BY-NC-ND) studies are reproduced verbatim with attribution under their specific CC license; non-Open-Access studies are paraphrased as derived fact summaries (numbers and proper nouns preserved, sentences rewritten). Original records:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41524647/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41766740/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41844436/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42015311/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42117820/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42126746/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42295045/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42311595/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42408518/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42484127/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42528927/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42530601/