Novel Circoviruses Detected in Feces of Sonoran Felids

Abstract

Sonoran felids are threatened by drought and habitat fragmentation. Vector range expansion and anthropogenic factors such as habitat encroachment and climate change are altering viral evolutionary dynamics and exposure. However, little is known about the diversity of viruses present in these populations. Small felid populations with lower genetic diversity are likely to be most threatened with extinction by emerging diseases, as with other selective pressures, due to having less adaptive potential. We used a metagenomic approach to identify novel circoviruses, which may have a negative impact on the population viability, from confirmed bobcat (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor) scats collected in Sonora, Mexico. Given some circoviruses are known to cause disease in their hosts, such as porcine and avian circoviruses, we took a non-invasive approach using scat to identify circoviruses in free-roaming bobcats and puma. Three circovirus genomes were determined, and, based on the current species demarcation, they represent two novel species. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that one circovirus species is more closely related to rodent associated circoviruses and the other to bat associated circoviruses, sharing highest genome-wide pairwise identity of approximately 70% and 63%, respectively. At this time, it is unknown whether these scat-derived circoviruses infect felids, their prey, or another organism that might have had contact with the scat in the environment. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the host of these viruses and assess health impacts in felids.

Coevolutionary Analysis Implicates Toll-Like Receptor 9 in Papillomavirus Restriction

“…We captured bats in mist nets set over water sources, extracted them from the nets, and put them in brown paper bags. Feces were collected and processed for high-throughput DNA sequencing as described previously ( 69 ). We identified two circular contigs (circular based on terminal redundancy) that had similarities to papillomavirus sequences.…”

“…Of each of the fecal samples, 5 g was homogenized in SM buffer, and the homogenate was centrifuged at 6,000 × g for 10 min. The supernatant was sequentially filtered through 0.45-μm and 0.2-μm syringe filters, and viral particles in the filtrate were precipitated with 15% (wt/vol) polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG 8000) with an overnight incubation at 4°C followed by centrifugation at 10,000 × g as described previously ( 69 ). The pellet was resuspended in 500 μL of SM buffer, and 200 μL of this was used for viral DNA extraction using the High Pure viral nucleic acid kit (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN).…”

Detection and Complete Genome Analysis of Circoviruses and Cycloviruses in the Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata): Identification of Novel Species

“…ictvonline.org/ictv-reports/ictv_online_report/ssdna-viruses/w/circoviridae, accessed 10 July 2021]. Circoviruses and cycloviruses have been reported in various mammals, birds and arthropods [1][2][3][4][5][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Circoviruses have also been detected in fish and reptiles [2,[23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

“…Based on genome-wide pairwise nt sequence identities and phylogenetic analysis, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has recognized at least 49 and 52 species within the genera Circovirus and Cyclovirus , respectively [ , accessed 10 July 2021]. Circoviruses and cycloviruses have been reported in various mammals, birds and arthropods [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Circoviruses have also been detected in fish and reptiles [ 2 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

Circovirus in Blood of a Febrile Horse with Hepatitis

“…Circoviruses are small viruses in the Circoviridae family whose circular single-stranded DNA genomes of~2 kb are amongst the smallest known [1]. Circoviruses are associated with a wide spectrum of disease ranging from asymptomatic to lethal in different birds, pigs, elks, cows, dogs, panda bears, bears, bobcats, pumas, foxes, minks, palm civets, fur seals, numerous rodents, as well as in reptiles and fish [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Circoviruses have also been described in numerous bat species [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”