Detection and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Species of Circovirus in a Tawny Owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>) in Southern Italy
Thanks to recent developments in molecular methods, many new species have been discovered within the genus <i>Circovirus</i>, which comprises viruses of veterinary relevance found in a broad range of hosts. In particular, several circoviruses are known to infect birds, often causing immu...
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/2/135 |
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| author | Matteo Legnardi Laura Grassi Giovanni Franzo Maria Luisa Menandro Claudia Maria Tucciarone Adriano Minichino Ludovico Dipineto Luca Borrelli Alessandro Fioretti Mattia Cecchinato |
| author_facet | Matteo Legnardi Laura Grassi Giovanni Franzo Maria Luisa Menandro Claudia Maria Tucciarone Adriano Minichino Ludovico Dipineto Luca Borrelli Alessandro Fioretti Mattia Cecchinato |
| author_sort | Matteo Legnardi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thanks to recent developments in molecular methods, many new species have been discovered within the genus <i>Circovirus</i>, which comprises viruses of veterinary relevance found in a broad range of hosts. In particular, several circoviruses are known to infect birds, often causing immunosuppression and feathering disorders. Nonetheless, nothing is known about their circulation in birds of prey. In this study, samples from 61 birds of prey representing ten different species, recovered by a wildlife rescue centre in Southern Italy, were taken at necropsy and analysed by PCR with pan-<i>Circovirus</i> primers. Only one sample, collected from a tawny owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>), tested positive. Its genome, sequenced by primer walking, displays the typical features of circoviruses. Based on demarcation criteria, the detected strain qualifies as a novel species, which was named “tawny owl-associated circovirus” (ToCV). Phylogenetically, ToCV clustered with mammalian rather than avian circoviruses, and its closeness to a rodent circovirus suggests that its host may have been a micromammal eaten by the tawny owl. On the other hand, its detection in the spleen fits with the tropism of other avian circoviruses. Little can be therefore said on its biology and pathogenicity, and further efforts are needed to better characterize its epidemiology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:03:18Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:03:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-01eba7eab41f4607a950eaf980fb5c852023-11-23T12:41:00ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-01-0112213510.3390/ani12020135Detection and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Species of Circovirus in a Tawny Owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>) in Southern ItalyMatteo Legnardi0Laura Grassi1Giovanni Franzo2Maria Luisa Menandro3Claudia Maria Tucciarone4Adriano Minichino5Ludovico Dipineto6Luca Borrelli7Alessandro Fioretti8Mattia Cecchinato9Dipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzione e Salute, Università di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzione e Salute, Università di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzione e Salute, Università di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzione e Salute, Università di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzione e Salute, Università di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Napoli, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Napoli, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Napoli, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Napoli, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Animale, Produzione e Salute, Università di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyThanks to recent developments in molecular methods, many new species have been discovered within the genus <i>Circovirus</i>, which comprises viruses of veterinary relevance found in a broad range of hosts. In particular, several circoviruses are known to infect birds, often causing immunosuppression and feathering disorders. Nonetheless, nothing is known about their circulation in birds of prey. In this study, samples from 61 birds of prey representing ten different species, recovered by a wildlife rescue centre in Southern Italy, were taken at necropsy and analysed by PCR with pan-<i>Circovirus</i> primers. Only one sample, collected from a tawny owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>), tested positive. Its genome, sequenced by primer walking, displays the typical features of circoviruses. Based on demarcation criteria, the detected strain qualifies as a novel species, which was named “tawny owl-associated circovirus” (ToCV). Phylogenetically, ToCV clustered with mammalian rather than avian circoviruses, and its closeness to a rodent circovirus suggests that its host may have been a micromammal eaten by the tawny owl. On the other hand, its detection in the spleen fits with the tropism of other avian circoviruses. Little can be therefore said on its biology and pathogenicity, and further efforts are needed to better characterize its epidemiology.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/2/135circovirusbirds of preytawny owlmolecular characterizationCRESS DNA viruseswildlife |
| spellingShingle | Matteo Legnardi Laura Grassi Giovanni Franzo Maria Luisa Menandro Claudia Maria Tucciarone Adriano Minichino Ludovico Dipineto Luca Borrelli Alessandro Fioretti Mattia Cecchinato Detection and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Species of Circovirus in a Tawny Owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>) in Southern Italy Animals circovirus birds of prey tawny owl molecular characterization CRESS DNA viruses wildlife |
| title | Detection and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Species of Circovirus in a Tawny Owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>) in Southern Italy |
| title_full | Detection and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Species of Circovirus in a Tawny Owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>) in Southern Italy |
| title_fullStr | Detection and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Species of Circovirus in a Tawny Owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>) in Southern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Species of Circovirus in a Tawny Owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>) in Southern Italy |
| title_short | Detection and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Species of Circovirus in a Tawny Owl (<i>Strix aluco</i>) in Southern Italy |
| title_sort | detection and molecular characterization of a novel species of circovirus in a tawny owl i strix aluco i in southern italy |
| topic | circovirus birds of prey tawny owl molecular characterization CRESS DNA viruses wildlife |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/2/135 |
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