IN case you missed it, 2008 has been declared The Year of the Frog. I'm not sure who by, but it wasn't the Chinese. For them 2008 is the Year of the Rat and there's a bit of difference.

But the spotlight falls on the common or garden amphibian at a most unfortunate time, because Chytridiomycosis is on the march and frogs nationwide had better watch out.

Already a call has gone out to Worcestershire pond watchers to look for signs of this fungal disease, which has only recently arrived in the UK.

Pronounced Chi trid dio my co sis', it invades and damages the amphibian's skin, eventually leading to death. However, the connundrum is that the effects vary between amphibian species and while the disease is fatal for some, others appear largely unaffacted and at present no one knows why.

"The disease is widespread in other parts of the world, leading to mass deaths of amphibians," said Jurjen Annen, water and wetlands officer at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, "and although it has only been found in two sites in the UK to date, precautions must be taken to ensure that its spread is not encouraged.

"In the UK the disease was first recorded several years ago in a population of introduced North American bullfrogs, which had become established in south-east England around Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells. However, a more worrying trend was found during 2006 when a volunteer involved with the Herpetological Conservation Trust's captive rearing programmes noticed unexplained mortality in captive reared natterjacks toadlets prior to their release. His vigilance and reporting led, in turn, to the discovery of infected natterjacks at a site in Cumbria.

"Subsequent sampling by an HCT officer, volunteers and the Institute of Zoology identified five further infected natterjack sites in Cumbria, during the spring and summer 2007."

So the disease would appear to be on the march and although no sign of it has yet been seen in Worcestershire, it's all hands to the barricades or even the pondside to ensure it isn't. To this end, a guide has been produced by the UK's leading amphibian and repile group.

"The guide stresses the need to avoid spreading the fungal disease by not moving amphibians or pond water, sterilising footwear and equipment and reporting dead amphibians," Jurgen added. "The non-transfer message should also help stop the spread of invasive aquatic plants, such as Azolla and Parrot's Feather.

"People can still encourage frogs, toads and newts into gardens by making ponds, leaving log piles and some longer vegetation for them to hunt and hide in, and not using harmful chemicals when gardening.

"But there is no cause for panic. The situation will become clearer as we find out more about the fungus and where it is found in England. The limited evidence on UK species so far indicates that toads are more susceptible than frogs or newts."

However, the waters are muddied somewhat because you cannot tell for sure if an amphibian is infected with chytrid just by looking at it. Complex laboratory tests are required for a proper diagnosis; this is harmless for the animal being tested. Some infected frogs show lethargy and excessive skin shedding, but this is not conclusive. Chytridiomycosis seems to result in mass deaths in the weeks following metamorphosis (when young amphibians leave the pond after changing from the tadpole stage). Again, however, there can be other causes for this so a laboratory diagnosis is needed.

But what Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Natural England or any other wildlife body is not looking for are samples of dead frogs. Don't pop any in the post to them. The situation is being tackled by selective sampling by specialists.

If you have a pet frog or amphibian that starts to look a bit peeky, there is an effective fungicidal treatment, so don't worry.

Just keep 'em peeled and hop to it.