title: Ranavirus-associated mass mortality in wild amphibians, the Netherlands, 2010: a first report.
abstract: In 2010, a mass die-off of over 1000 wild water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) and at least 10 common newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) occurred in a pond in The Netherlands. Haemorrhagic disease with hepatomegaly and splenomegaly was evident. Microscopically, multiple organs presented cells with multifocal intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies, in which ranavirus-like particles were demonstrated ultrastructurally. All specimens examined tested positive for ranavirus by PCR. The sequence obtained showed a 100% identity with the one deposited for common midwife toad virus (CMTV). This is the first report of ranavirus-associated mortality in wild amphibian populations in The Netherlands. It is also the first time CMTV or a CMTV-like virus has been reported in these two species in the adult stage and outside of Spain.
authors.affiliation: Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: info@kikdierenarts.nl.
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kik
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martel
authors.affiliation: Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation Netherlands (RAVON), Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemarieke Spitzen-van der
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sluijs
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pasmans
authors.affiliation: University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wohlsein
authors.affiliation: Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gröne
authors.affiliation: Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jolianne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rijks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D017995:Ranavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011898:Ranidae / Q000821:virology*; D012455:Salamandridae / Q000821:virology*