A new duck circovirus sequence, detected in velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) supports great diversity among this species of virus

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the presence of circoviruses in wild bird populations, in Poland. Circoviruses possess immuno-suppressive properties and might interfere with the health of wild birds.Method83 birds, which belonged to 23 species, were tested with broad-range, nested PCR. The obtained PCR products were sequenced and new primers designed, to analyse the full-length, viral genome. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted, to find any relationship to known circoviruses.ResultsThe circovirus DNA sequence was found in 4 birds. All samples originated from the velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) a marine duck from the Merginae sub-family. Birds which tested positive for the circovirus were found dead in fishing nets, off the Baltic coast. During post-mortem examination, carcasses of two of the scoters showed only light emaciation, while the two other birds appeared healthy. The obtained, full-length, circovirus sequence revealed 1,988 nucleotides and the presence of typical features (i.e. Cap, Rep and ORF3). Nucleotide similarity to other duck circoviruses was 84 to 86 %. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genome and cap gene, indicated that the new circovirus is related to known duck circoviruses, especially to sub-types sometimes referred to as duck circovirus genotype 1, but not genotype 2.ConclusionsIn this study, we have reported a new duck circovirus sequence detected in the velvet scoter, a species of marine duck. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis of the new virus sequence support previous reports that duck circovirus (DuCV) is a species with a high degree of diversity. The viral sequence obtained from the velvet scoter suggests that DuCV may infect birds from the Anatinae sub-family. More studies are needed to prove if the velvet scoter and other marine ducks act as a reservoir for DuCV.

Molecular characterization of a recently identified circovirus in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) associated with immunosuppression and opportunistic infections

“…Interestingly, sequences obtained from the same aviary, but from different birds, were never identical, but, with the exception of aviary 5, were always found in the same subgroup. The genetic heterogeneity found in this investigation agrees well with similar findings in other circoviruses where extensive genetic diversity was attributed to the high mutation rate generally detected in circoviruses (Johne et al, 2006;Halami et al, 2008;Allan et al, 2012;Liao et al, 2015;Matczuk et al, 2015;Stenzel et al, 2015) and, recently, also to extensive recombination events (Varsani et al, 2011;Julian et al, 2013;Robino et al, 2014;Stenzel et al, 2014). In the cases of zebra finch circovirus infections presented here, this argues against multiple introductions of circovirus but for virus persistence and evolution in the aviaries.…”

Coinfection of novel goose parvovirus–associated virus and duck circovirus in feather sacs of Cherry Valley ducks with feather shedding syndrome

“…As a member of the genus Circovirus of the family Circoviridae, duck circovirus ( DuCV ) was first found in mulard ducks ( Hattermann et al., 2003 ). Until now, DuCV has been detected in a variety of domestic duck breeds and wild ducks ( Chen et al., 2006 ; Banda et al., 2007 ; Zhang et al., 2009 ; Wan et al., 2011 ; Matczuk et al., 2015 ). The typical symptoms of DuCV in meat ducks are growth retardation, weight loss, feathering disorders, and poor body condition ( Hattermann et al., 2003 ; Soike et al., 2004 ; Cha et al., 2014 ; Hong et al., 2018 ).…”

Duck “beak atrophy and dwarfism syndrome” disease complex: Interplay of novel goose parvovirus-related virus and duck circovirus?

“…Later, DuCV infection was reported in Hungary (Fringuelli et al, 2005), Taiwan (Chen et al, 2006), United States (Banda, Galloway-Haskins, Sandhu, & Schat, 2007) and Mainland China (Jiang et al, 2008). DuCV has been detected in Cherry Valley ducks, Pekin ducks, Muscovy ducks, mule ducks and wild ducks (Banda et al, 2007;Chen et al, 2006;Matczuk, Krawiec, & Wieliczko, 2015;Wan et al, 2011;Zhang et al, 2009). The virus can be divided into two genotypes (DuCV-1 and DuCV-2) based on the complete genome and cap gene (Wen et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2013).…”