Pesquisa de ranavírus em anuros procedentes de ambiente natural protegido no estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

Abstract

This research aimed to detect ranaviruses in free-living amphibians (anura order) located in the Mata do Tapacurá Integral Protection Unit, situated in São Lourenço da Mata, in the state of Pernambuco. The collection sessions took place in July 2022 and March 2023. A total of 36 anurans of 9 different species and both sexes were collected by manual capture, euthanized and then dissected to collect the organs of interest: kidneys, liver and spleen. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to detect ranavirus genomic DNA. In the analysis of the DNA fragments produced in the PCR, two positive samples (5,5%) were detected and DNA of the same molecular weight in relation to the positive control was amplified. The samples were submitted to nested PCR test. The presence of ranavirus DNA was not confirmed in the samples analyzed, so the diagnosis of ranavirus infection was dismissed. In addition to this research, an integrative literature review was also carried out, with the aim of gathering and systematizing existing knowledge on ranavirus infection in amphibians. A total of 68 articles were evaluated, and epidemiological data on distribution, prevalence, and circulating species/episodes were analyzed and described. This work highlights the importance of this emerging pathogen for the world's herpetofauna.