Viruses associated with Antarctic wildlife: From serology based detection to identification of genomes using high throughput sequencing

Abstract

The Antarctic, sub-Antarctic islands and surrounding sea-ice provide a unique environment for the existence of organisms. Nonetheless, birds and seals of a variety of species inhabit them, particularly during their breeding seasons. Early research on Antarctic wildlife health, using serology-based assays, showed exposure to viruses in the families Birnaviridae, Flaviviridae, Herpesviridae, Orthomyxoviridae and Paramyxoviridae circulating in seals (Phocidae), penguins (Spheniscidae), petrels (Procellariidae) and skuas (Stercorariidae). It is only during the last decade or so that polymerase chain reaction-based assays have been used to characterize viruses associated with Antarctic animals. Furthermore, it is only during the last five years that full/whole genomes of viruses (adenoviruses, anelloviruses, orthomyxoviruses, a papillomavirus, paramyoviruses, polyomaviruses and a togavirus) have been sequenced using Sanger sequencing or high throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches. This review summaries the knowledge of animal Antarctic virology and discusses potential future directions with the advent of HTS in virus discovery and ecology.

Sustained RNA virome diversity in Antarctic penguins and their ticks

“…To date, a small number of viral species have been described in Antarctic fauna [6]. Serological studies have revealed that Antarctic penguins are reservoirs for influenza A virus (IAV), avian avulaviruses (formerly avian paramyxoviruses), birnaviruses, herpesviruses, and flaviviruses [7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

“…Serological studies have revealed that Antarctic penguins are reservoirs for influenza A virus (IAV), avian avulaviruses (formerly avian paramyxoviruses), birnaviruses, herpesviruses, and flaviviruses [7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Despite improvements in the molecular tools for virus detection, it is only in recent years that full viral genomes have been characterised [6]. For example, adenoviruses, astroviruses, paramyxoviruses, orthomyxoviruses, polyomaviruses, and papillomavirus have been identified in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), and Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) [6,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”

“…Despite improvements in the molecular tools for virus detection, it is only in recent years that full viral genomes have been characterised [6]. For example, adenoviruses, astroviruses, paramyxoviruses, orthomyxoviruses, polyomaviruses, and papillomavirus have been identified in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica), and Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua) [6,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. However, sampling is limited and genomic data sparse, such that we have a fragmented understanding of virus diversity in penguins and in Antarctica in general.…”

Fish polyomaviruses belong to two distinct evolutionary lineages

“…Very few viruses have been described from Antarctic (marine) animals [ 13 ]. Initial analysis of this putative new virus resulted in the identification of ORFs with similarity to the PyV T-Ag and structural proteins (VP1 and VP2), suggesting that we recovered the genome of a new PyV associated with fish.…”

Identification of a Novel Adélie Penguin Circovirus at Cape Crozier (Ross Island, Antarctica)

“…While investigating a feather disorder condition in adult Adélie penguins (small patches of missing feathers; incidence of 1 in 1000 animals observed), Grimaldi et al [5] identified an astrovirus-like sequence by using a metagenomic approach on pooled blood samples from affected birds. Various other viruses have also been identified as infecting Antarctic penguins, reviewed in Smeele et al [6]. However, no viral agent has been identified that could result in such disease manifestation in penguins.…”