Ranavirus genotypes in the Netherlands and their potential association with virulence in water frogs (Pelophylax spp.)

Saucedo, B. et al. (2018) Ranavirus genotypes in the Netherlands and their potential association with virulence in water frogs (Pelophylax spp.). Emerging Microbes and Infections, 7(1), 56. (doi: 10.1038/s41426-018-0058-5) (PMID:29615625) (PMCID:PMC5882854)

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Abstract

Ranaviruses are pathogenic viruses for poikilothermic vertebrates worldwide. The identification of a common midwife toad virus (CMTV) associated with massive die-offs in water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) in the Netherlands has increased awareness for emerging viruses in amphibians in the country. Complete genome sequencing of 13 ranavirus isolates collected from ten different sites in the period 2011-2016 revealed three CMTV groups present in distinct geographical areas in the Netherlands. Phylogenetic analysis showed that emerging viruses from the northern part of the Netherlands belonged to CMTV-NL group I. Group II and III viruses were derived from the animals located in the center-east and south of the country, and shared a more recent common ancestor to CMTV-amphibian associated ranaviruses reported in China, Italy, Denmark, and Switzerland. Field monitoring revealed differences in water frog host abundance at sites where distinct ranavirus groups occur; with ranavirus-associated deaths, host counts decreasing progressively, and few juveniles found in the north where CMTV-NL group I occurs but not in the south with CMTV-NL group III. Investigation of tandem repeats of coding genes gave no conclusive information about phylo-geographical clustering, while genetic analysis of the genomes revealed truncations in 17 genes across CMTV-NL groups II and III compared to group I. Further studies are needed to elucidate the contribution of these genes as well as environmental variables to explain the observed differences in host abundance.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This study was funded by the Utrecht University, RAVON, the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre and Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT). J.H. was funded by the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom (MC_UU_12014/12).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hughes, Dr Joseph and Suarez, Dr Nicolas
Authors: Saucedo, B., Hughes, J., Spitzen-van der Sluijs, A., Kruithof, N., Schills, M., Rijks, J. M., Jacinto-Maldonado, M., Suarez, N., Haenen, O. L.M., Voorbergen-Laarman, M., van den Broek, J., Gilbert, M., Gröne, A., van Beurden, S. J., and Verheije, M. H.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
Journal Name:Emerging Microbes and Infections
Publisher:Taylor & Francis
ISSN:2222-1751
ISSN (Online):2222-1751
Published Online:04 April 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Authors
First Published:First published in Emerging Microbes and Infections 7(1):56
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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