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.
Highlights
Viruses that infect amphibians have been described previously mainly in reports concerning zoo or wild animals (Hipolito et al, 2003)
The renal adenocarcinoma known as Lucke tumor, a neoplasia associated with infection by the Herpesviridae family and low temperatures, was initially described in Rana pipiens in North America (Williams et al, 1996)
The American bullfrog, recently reclassified as Lithobates catesbeianus (Frost et al, 2006), is the main species used in frog farms and has an excellent capacity to adapt to different climates, as well as the distinct physical and feeding management used in the intensive culture systems (Ferreira et al, 2002)
Summary
Viruses that infect amphibians have been described previously mainly in reports concerning zoo or wild animals (Hipolito et al, 2003). The renal adenocarcinoma known as Lucke tumor, a neoplasia associated with infection by the Herpesviridae family and low temperatures, was initially described in Rana pipiens in North America (Williams et al, 1996). In anurans, such as Xenopus laevis and R. pipiens, the occurrence of lymphosarcoma associated with infection by the Iridovirus group has been described. The American bullfrog, recently reclassified as Lithobates catesbeianus (Frost et al, 2006), is the main species used in frog farms and has an excellent capacity to adapt to different climates, as well as the distinct physical and feeding management used in the intensive culture systems (Ferreira et al, 2002)
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