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Hi Jolianne, I don't have much useful suggestionss I guess: 1. Monitoring to keep track of the situation. --- Through investigation mass mortalities only to limit costs? Perhaps obtain and keep samples of frozen tissues for later. Viral DNA can resist for long time and reveal useful for further analysis. 2. Measures to minimize/slow the spread of the virus throughout the country --- Are there options besides communication of preventive measures to the public to minimize risk of transfer/introduction of CMTV (and other pathogens) by humans? Any tips regarding this communication? What hygiene protocols are being recommended in different countries? Perhaps control if there is any possibility to get virus dissemination through pet animals. 3. Studies leading to more insight into species at risk --- Would in vitro studies on fish/reptile/amphibian cell-lines provide some insight? The problem with cell lines is that usually can be infected with any type of ranavirus. So I don't think one can learn a lot on species at risks using this approach, except if you test primary cell culture (not immortalized). 4. Measures to protect rare species --- What would such measures be? Is raising back-up populations of rare species in captivity one of them? Perhaps also test on some laboratory frogs the potential benefit of recent antiviral drugs. I am not sure if this helps, but I am happy to give more thoughts. Regards, Jacques On 2/10/12 2:55 PM, "Rijks, J.M." <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Dear all, We had a ranavirus (CMTV) outbreak in the Netherlands in 2010 (described in Kik M et al, 2011: http://fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/ranavirus/2011Publications/Kiketal2011.pdf ), and have a question to put forward to the Consortium: Should CMTV occur only in part of the country, are there measures that could be taken to limit the impact of the virus? If so, what measures would the Consortium recommend? Our thoughts were along the following lines 1. Monitoring to keep track of the situation. --- Through investigation mass mortalities only to limit costs? 2. Measures to minimize/slow the spread of the virus throughout the country --- Are there options besides communication of preventive measures to the public to minimize risk of transfer/introduction of CMTV (and other pathogens) by humans? Any tips regarding this communication? What hygiene protocols are being recommended in different countries? 3. Studies leading to more insight into species at risk --- Would in vitro studies on fish/reptile/amphibian cell-lines provide some insight? 4. Measures to protect rare species --- What would such measures be? Is raising back-up populations of rare species in captivity one of them? Looking forward to receiving your ideas on this point, Kind regards, also on behalf of Marja Kik and Annemarieke Spitzen, Jolianne Rijks Dutch Wildlife Health Centre www.dwhc.nl <http://www.dwhc.nl/> -- Jacques ROBERT, Ph. D. Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Box 672 University of Rochester , Medical Center Rochester, NY 14642 USA Phone: office: (585) 275-1722; lab: (585) 275-5359 FAX: (585) 473-9573 Email: [log in to unmask] http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/mbi/faculty/robert.htm http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/mbi/resources/labs/Robert_Lab/index.cfm Xenopus laevis Resource for Immunobiology: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/mbi/xenopus/index.htm Use of the return email address on this message for commercial purposes is prohibited. The transmission of unsolicited commercial material is prohibited under federal laws (47 USC 227). Civil penalties and claims of $500.00 per occurrence (47 USC 227[c]) may be assessed for violations.