Sustained Ranavirus Outbreak Causes Mass Mortality and Morbidity of Imperiled Amphibians in Florida

AbstractA persistent 2-month long outbreak ofRanavirus in a natural community of amphibians contributed to a mass die-off of gopher frog tadpoles (Lithobates capito) and severe disease in striped newts (Notophthalmus perstriatus) in Florida. Ongoing mortality inL. capito and disease signs inN. perstriatus continued for 5  weeks after the first observation. Hemorrhagic disease and necrosis were diagnosed from pathological examination ofL. capito tadpoles. We confirmed detection of a frog virus 3 (FV3)-likeRanavirus via quantitative PCR in all species. Our findings highlight the susceptibility of these species toRv and the need for long-term disease surveillance during epizootics.
Source: EcoHealth - Category: Environmental Health Source Type: research