Tracking viral particles in the intestinal contents of the American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus, by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Feces are an important viral agent elimination route for infected carrier animals and in aquatic organisms these pathogenic agents can very rapidly propagate due to the habitation environment. The objective of this work is to track viral particles in the intestinal contents of bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) from five commercial frog farms in the region of Vale do Paraíba, in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, using negative contrast transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Coronaviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Parvoviridae and Herpesviridae families were observed and photographed in specimens. This work emphasizes the importance of adopting sanitary measures in commercial farms and confirms that observing feces by TEM is an efficient and rapid diagnostic tool for detecting viral agents.

Presence of ascites in bullfrog breeders reared and kept on a frog farm

“…These cases may or may not be accompanied by nervous symptoms, and, at times, sudden deaths. It is common for the various medical conditions that compose the ascites syndrome to occur in one single outbreak (Antonucci et al, 2014). At present, frog farming in Brazil is an alternative agro-industrial activity, especially for producers with limited available space, as it can be profitable in small areas (Dias et al, 2008).…”