Surveillance of ranavirus in anurans from a protected natural area in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil
Ranavirus; anura; diagnostic; epimiology; virology; conservation
The aim of this reserach was to detect ranaviruses in free-ranging amphibians (anura order) located in the Mata do Tapacurá Integral Protection Unit, situated in São Lourenço da Mata, in the state of Pernambuco. Thirty-eight anurans of nine different species and both sexes were collected by manual capture, euthanized and then dissected to collect the organs of interest: kidneys, liver and spleen. Conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to detect the genomic DNA. The PCR-positive samples were submitted to genomic sequencing to analyze the sequences and differentiate the ranavirus species. In addition to this research, was carried out an integrative review, with the purpose of gathering and systematizing existing knowledge on ranavirus infection in amphibians, highlighting the importance of this emerging pathogen for the world's herpetofauna.