Abstract
We identified hepadnaviruses in passerine birds. The virus was detected in four eggs from Gouldian finches (Chloebia gouldiae), in three feather quills, and in a liver sample from other ornamental birds. The full-length circular genome (~3 kb in length) of hepadnavirus strains detected in a Gouldian finch, a Society finch (Lonchura striata domestica) and a Long-tailed finch (Poephila acuticauda) was reconstructed. Hepadnavirus replicative circular DNA was detected in the egg and quill samples, suggesting the presence of cccDNA in these sites. The viruses were genetically distantly related to other avian hepadnaviruses and endogenous hepadnavirus elements, suggesting geographical or host-species restriction in passerine birds.
Funding
This research was supported by European Union funding within the MUR PNRR Extended Partnership initiative on Emerging Infectious Diseases (project no. PE00000007, INF-ACT) and PRIN 2022 “Investigating Hepatotropic Viruses in carnivores and humans in a One Health perspective” (HVOH) prot. 2022EPP2TT- MUR.
MV was also supported by the National Laboratory for Infectious Animal Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Veterinary Public Health and Food Chain Safety, with the project RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00001.
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Pellegrini, F., Casalino, G., Lombardi, R. et al. Novel avian hepadnaviruses in passerine birds.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-68396-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-68396-8
Keywords
- Hepadnavirus
- RCA
- Finch
Source: Ecology - nature.com
