Novel picornavirus in turkey poults with hepatitis, California, USA

To identify a candidate etiologic agent for turkey viral hepatitis, we analyzed samples from diseased turkey poults from 8 commercial flocks in California, USA, that were collected during 2008–2010. High-throughput pyrosequencing of RNA from livers of poults with turkey viral hepatitis (TVH) revealed picornavirus sequences. Subsequent cloning of the ≈9-kb genome showed an organization similar to that of picornaviruses with conservation of motifs within the P1, P2, and P3 genome regions, but also unique features, including a 1.2-kb sequence of unknown function at the junction of P1 and P2 regions. Real-time PCR confirmed viral RNA in liver, bile, intestine, serum, and cloacal swab specimens from diseased poults. Analysis of liver by in situ hybridization with viral probes and immunohistochemical testing of serum demonstrated viral nucleic acid and protein in livers of diseased poults. Molecular, anatomic, and immunologic evidence suggests that TVH is caused by a novel picornavirus, tentatively named turkey hepatitis virus

Use of Avian Bornavirus Isolates to Induce Proventricular Dilatation Disease in Conures

The fulfillment of Koch’s postulates shows that the virus causes proventricular dilatation disease in parrots

Novel Borna Virus in Psittacine Birds with Proventricular Dilatation Disease

Pyrosequencing of cDNA from brains of parrots with proventricular dilatation disease (PDD), an unexplained fatal inflammatory central, autonomic, and peripheral nervous system disease, showed 2 strains of a novel Borna virus. Real-time PCR confirmed virus presence in brain, proventriculus, and adrenal gland of 3 birds with PDD but not in 4 unaffected birds

Novel coronavirus and astrovirus in Delaware Bay shorebirds.

Wild birds are an important but to some extent under-studied reservoir for emerging pathogens. We used unbiased sequencing methods for virus discovery in shorebird samples from the Delaware Bay, USA; an important feeding ground for thousands of migratory birds.Analysis of shorebird fecal samples indicated the presence of a novel astrovirus and coronavirus. A sanderling sample yielded sequences with distant homology to avian nephritis virus 1, an astrovirus associated with acute nephritis in poultry. A ruddy turnstone sample yielded sequences with homology to deltacoronaviruses.Our findings highlight shorebirds as a virus reservoir and the need to closely monitor wild bird populations for the emergence of novel virus variants

Phylogenetic analysis of ruddy turnstone CoV partial polymerase sequence (168 aa, marked with a circle) and selected CoV sequences (indicated by their Genbank accession numbers in brackets).

<p>Bootstrap values based on 1000 pseudoreplicates are indicated at the respective nodes; scale bar indicates substitutions per site. The division of the CoVs into alpha, beta, gamma and delta groups is indicated by shaded boxes. Breda virus, a torovirus from the subfamily <i>Torovirinae</i>, family <i>Coronaviridae</i> was used as an outlier. FIPV, feline infectious peritonitis virus; TGEV, transmissible gastroenteritis CoV; BtCoV, bat CoV; PEDV, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus; SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome; MHV, mouse hepatitis virus; PHEV, porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus; HCoV, human CoV; BCoV, bovine CoV; TCoV, turkey CoV; IBV, infectious bronchitis virus.</p

Phylogenetic analysis of sanderling astrovirus partial ORF1a sequence (198 aa, marked with a circle) and selected AstV sequences (indicated by their Genbank accession numbers in brackets).

<p>Bootstrap values based on 1000 pseudoreplicates are indicated at the respective nodes; scale bar indicates substitutions per site. The division of the family into <i>Mamastrovirus</i> genus and <i>Avastrovirus</i> genus is indicated by shaded boxes. HAstV, human AstV; OAstV, ovine AstV; MAstV, mink AstV; CAstV, chicken AstV; TAstV, turkey AstV; DAstV, duck AstV.</p