Molecular detection and virus isolation attempts for Ranavirus from amphibians and fish from northeastern and central-eastern regions of São Paulo State

• Grant number: 13/12149-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Luiz Moro de Sousa
• Grantee: Marina Pinheiro Lima Rosa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aquaculture is considered a strategic market for sustainable development, food production, and expansion of unexplored frontiers in Brazil. However, like other livestock production systems, this area presents problems of sanitary order resulting from its intensification, involving health aspects of production and lack of structure for the diagnosis of major infectious diseases. During the past 20 years, virus of the family Iridoviridae, especially members of the genus Ranavirus, have been responsible for large epidemics of ecological and economic impacts, involving a large number of fish, amphibians, and reptiles of importance in aquaculture around the world. However, information about the occurrence of infections caused by Ranavirus in fish and amphibians in Brazil is limited. In this context, the aim of this project is to detect Ranavirus in fish and amphibians in the State of São Paulo, preferably in the northeastern and central-eastern regions, focusing on the diagnostic laboratory. Tissue samples of fish and amphibians collected in cities of watersheds of the rivers Pardo and Mogi-Guaçu, both from commercial flocks and free-living populations will be subjected to molecular diagnosis by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), nucleotide sequencing, and virus isolation in cell culture. Nevertheless, the results obtained in this study may contribute to understanding the possible epidemiological importance of iridovirus infections in susceptible fish and amphibian species, competing to determine the geographic circulation of Ranavirus in the state of São Paulo, thereby providing support for the development of potential strategies to control the associated diseases.