Characterization of a new picornavirus isolated from the freshwater fish Lepomis macrochirus

Abstract

The freshwater fish Lepomis macrochirus (bluegill) is common to North American waters, and important both ecologically and as a sport fish. In 2001 an unknown virus was isolated from bluegills following a bluegill fish kill. This virus was identified as a picornavirus [termed bluegill picornavirus (BGPV)] and a diagnostic reverse transcriptase PCR was developed. A survey of bluegills in Wisconsin waters showed the presence of BGPV in 5 of 17 waters sampled, suggesting the virus is widespread in bluegill populations. Experimental infections of bluegills confirmed that BGPV can cause morbidity and mortality in bluegills. Molecular characterization of BGPV revealed several distinct genome characteristics, the most unusual of which is the presence of a short poly(C) tract in the 39 UTR. Additionally, the genome encodes a polyprotein lacking a leader peptide and a VP0 maturation cleavage site, and is predicted to encode two distinct 2A proteins. Sequence comparison showed that the virus is most closely related to a phylogenetic cluster of picornaviruses that includes the genera Aquamavirus, Avihepatovirus and Parechovirus. However, it is distinct enough, for example sharing only about 38 % sequence identity to the parechoviruses in the 3D region, that it may represent a new genus in the family Picornaviridae.

Comparative Complete Genome Analysis of Chicken and Turkey Megriviruses (Family Picornaviridae): Long 3′ Untranslated Regions with a Potential Second Open Reading Frame and Evidence for Possible Recombination

“…Most picornaviruses have only one mature 2A peptide/protein, although the number of picornaviruses with multiple potential 2As with mainly unknown function, e.g., duck hepatitis A virus (DHAV), turkey hepatitis virus (THV), swine pasivirus, bluegill picornavirus, turkey avisivirus, and pigeon mesivirus (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11), is increasing.…”

A multiplex RT-PCR assay for the detection of fish picornaviruses

“…The BGPV-1 and EPV-1 were reported to cause morbidity and mortality in bluegills and European glass eels, respectively (Fichtner et al, 2013;Barbknecht et al, 2014). However, CPV-1 does not cause any clinical illness in carp and the disease causing potential of FHMPV is currently unknown (Lange et al, 2014;Phelps et al, 2014).…”

“…However, CPV-1 does not cause any clinical illness in carp and the disease causing potential of FHMPV is currently unknown (Lange et al, 2014;Phelps et al, 2014). Phylogenetic analysis of the four picornavirus (BGPV-1, CPV-1, EPV-1 and FHMPV) genomes reveals that these viruses can potentially belong to four new species in the family Picornaviridae (Barbknecht et al, 2014;Fichtner et al, 2013;Lange et al, 2014;Phelps et al, 2014).…”

“…Little was known about picornaviruses in fish until recent reports of novel picornaviruses in common carp (Cyprinus carpio; Lange et al, 2014), European glass eel (Anguilla anguilla; Fichtner et al, 2013), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus; Barbknecht et al, 2014), and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas; Phelps et al, 2014). These viruses are herein referred to as carp picornavirus-1 (CPV-1), eel picornavirus-1 (EPV-1), bluegill picornavirus-1 (BGPV-1) and fathead minnow picornavirus (FHMPV).…”

A highly divergent picornavirus in an amphibian, the smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)

“…Picornaviruses include a wide range of pathogens (Knowles et al, 2012; http://www.picornaviridae.com) and have been found in various vertebrate host species including humans and other mammals (Kapoor et al, 2008b), birds (Boros et al, 2014) and recently in fish (Fichtner et al, 2013;Barbknecht et al, 2014;Lange et al;2014;Phelps et al, 2014) and reptiles (Heuser et al, 2010;Ng et al, 2015). All known picornaviruses in lower vertebrates (in fish and reptiles) represent a potentially novel but presently unassigned species or genus (http://www.picornaviridae.…”