Latest edition of book provides guidance on monitoring and management of ranaviruses in amphibians, reptiles and fish

Researchers provide new information and guidance for the surveillance and management of viruses that cause life-threatening diseases in amphibians, reptiles, and fish, as detailed in the second edition of Ranaviruses: Emerging Pathogens of Ectothermic Vertebrates. We provide.

The new book was edited by Matt Gray, associate director of the Agricultural Research Institute and professor in the Department of Natural Resources at the University of Tennessee Wildlife Health Center, and V. Gregory Chinchar, professor emeritus at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Ranavirus infections are causing mass mortality of wild and captive amphibian, reptile, and fish populations around the world, impacting biodiversity and ecosystems. Cases of infection or disease have been confirmed in at least 177 species of amphibians, 49 species of fish, and 37 species of reptiles.

The second edition examines how viruses function in infected animals, transmission through host populations, the impact of international trade on global distribution, and virus diagnosis and surveillance. Contains new information such as R code to help readers perform statistical analysis and modeling. A new chapter also focuses on the Singapore flycatcher virus, written by Chinese scientists.

The second edition was the work of 34 experts from around the world, including Deb Miller, director of the UTIA Wildlife Health Center and UT One Health and professor in the Department of Natural Resources. “The revision would not have been possible without the organizational influence of the Global Ranavirus Consortium,” Gray said.

This book is available as an open access publication. The first edition of Ranaviruses is also available online.