Evidence of Ranavirus in a green tree frog (Litoria caerulea) in captive zoo

Abstract

Ranavirus is one of the causative agents responsible for the rapid decline in amphibian populations worldwide. The objectives of this study were to detect and to genetically characterize ranavirus infection in 36 liver tissues obtained from dead imported zoo amphibians in Thailand. Polymerase chain reaction and molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed based on nucleotide sequences containing major capsid protein gene. Results showed 1 positive sample (~531 bp) from a green tree frog (Litoria caerulea). The virus was highly homologous (98%) and closely related to ranavirus. Our results extend the risk and evidence of ranavirus infection in zoo amphibian in Thailand.