Long-term study of an infection with ranaviruses in a group of edible frogs (Pelophylax kl. esculentus) and partial characterization of two viruses based on four genomic regions

Several edible frogs (Pelophylax kl. esculentus) collected into a single group from various ponds in Europe died suddenly with reddening of the skin (legs, abdomen) and haemorrhages in the gastrointestinal tract. Ranavirus was detected in some of the dead frogs using PCR, and virus was also isolated in cell culture. Over the following 3years, another two outbreaks occurred with low to high mortality in between asymptomatic periods. In the first 2years, the same ranavirus was detected repeatedly, but a new ranavirus was isolated in association with the second mass-mortality event.