Ranavirus: past, present and future

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases are a significant threat to global biodiversity. While historically overlooked, a group of iridoviruses in the genus Ranavirus has been responsible for die-offs in captive and wild amphibian, reptile and fish populations around the globe over the past two decades. In order to share contemporary information on ranaviruses and identify critical research directions, the First International Symposium on Ranaviruses was held in July 2011 in Minneapolis, MN, USA. Twenty-three scientists and veterinarians from nine countries examined the ecology and evolution of ranavirus–host interactions, potential reservoirs, transmission dynamics, as well as immunological and histopathological responses to infection. In addition, speakers discussed possible mechanisms for die-offs, and conservation strategies to control outbreaks.

Infection and co-infection by the amphibian chytrid fungus and ranavirus in wild Costa Rican frogs

“…Ranaviruses are a globally-distributed group of iridoviruses known to affect amphibians, reptiles, and fish (Lesbarrères et al 2012). At least 2 strains of ranaviruses, Amybstoma tigrinum virus and Frog Virus 3 (hereafter FV3), have been associated with mass mortality events in amphibians (Green et al 2002, Miller et al 2011.…”

Co-infection by alveolate parasites and frog virus 3-like ranavirus during an amphibian larval mortality event in Florida, USA

“…Iridoviruses of the genus Ranavirus infect poikilothermic vertebrates across 3 taxonomic classes: anuran and caudate amphibians, squamate and testudine reptiles, and bony fishes (Chinchar 2002, Chinchar et al 2009). Frog virus 3 (FV3), the type species for the genus Ranavirus, is pathogenic to both larval and adult amphibians and has been responsible for frog population declines and dieoffs worldwide (Gray et al 2009b, Lesbarrères et al 2012.Another parasite that appears to be of high pathogenic significance but has yet to achieve reportable status is the alveolate protistan parasite responsible for larval amphibian die-offs throughout the USA (Green et al 2003, Davis et al 2007, Cook 2008). This parasite, the cause of an emerging disease in amphibians, has not yet been officially named.…”

Rana grylio virus TK and DUT gene locus could be simultaneously used for foreign gene expression

“…To date, 19 iridovirus genomes have been completely sequenced (Tan et al, 2004;Tsai et al, 2005;Jancovich et al, 2015;Zhang and Gui, 2015). Ranaviruses have been believed to be responsible for epidemics and die-offs in fish, amphibian and reptile over the past two decades Lesbarrères et al, 2012;Stöhr et al, 2013). Basing on sufficient supporting evidences, ranaviruses have also been recognized as emerging infectious pathogens (Tompkins et al, 2015).…”