Characterization of a novel gyrovirus in human stool and chicken meat

Abstract

Background Sequence-independent amplification of clinical specimens can lead to the identification of novel pathogens. Objectives To identify novel viruses in human stool specimens from patients with diarrhea and to investigate the ecology and clinical significance of such viruses. Study Design Nucleic acid extracted from stool specimens from patients with diarrhea with no known aetiology were subjected to random PCR amplification and Roche/454 pyrosequencing. Novel viruses identified were genetically and epidemiologically characterized. Results Four gyroviruses, chicken anemia virus (CAV), human gyrovirus (HGV) / avian gyrovirus 2 (AGV2), gyrovirus 3 (GyV3) and a novel gyrovirus (tentatively designated as gyrovirus 4 (GyV4)) were identified in human stool specimens. GyV4, as well as CAV and AGV2/HGV were also detected in chicken skin and meat used for human consumption. Conclusions A novel gyrovirus (GyV4) was identified in human stool and in chicken meat sold for human consumption. This virus was phylogenetically distinct from previously reported gyroviruses in chicken and humans (chicken anemia virus, human gyrovirus, avian gyrovirus 2 and recently reported gyrovirus 3). The epidemiology and pathogenesis of this virus in humans and in chicken needs to be further investigated.

Sequence and phylogenetic analysis identifies a putative novel gyrovirus 3 genotype in ferret feces

“…The prototype GyV species, Chicken anaemia virus (CAV), causes significant losses in young chickens. Candidate new GyV species, including human GyV/avian GyV 2 (HGyV/AGV2), GyV3 to GyV6, have been first identified from chicken serum and/or human skin and fecal samples [1][2][3][4][5]. So far, the etiologic role of novel GyVs in any disease has not been formally demonstrated [1][2][3][4][5][6][7].…”

“…Candidate new GyV species, including human GyV/avian GyV 2 (HGyV/AGV2), GyV3 to GyV6, have been first identified from chicken serum and/or human skin and fecal samples [1][2][3][4][5]. So far, the etiologic role of novel GyVs in any disease has not been formally demonstrated [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. The ssDNA genome of GyVs encodes two or three potential proteins and based on phylogenetic analysis they have been grouped into two major clades; members of Clade A GyVs possess a larger genome (2315-2383 nt) and include HGyV/AGV2, GyV3 and GyV6 along with the CAV, whereas Clade B includes GyV4 and GyV5, both with a smaller genome (2020-2034 nt) [1][2][3][4][5].…”

Avian Gyrovirus 2 and Avirulent Newcastle Disease Virus Coinfection in a Chicken Flock with Neurologic Symptoms and High Mortalities

“…The genus currently includes chicken anemia virus (CAV) and proposed members human gyrovirus (HGV), avian gyrovirus 2 (AGV2), gyrovirus 3 (GyV3), and gyrovirus 4 (GyV4) (3,9). Gyrovirus genomic organizations are similar: CAV, AGV2, HGV, and GyV3 encode partially overlapping proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 as well as a putative 59 untranscribed region, but GyV4 appears to lack a VP3 gene (3). CAV was first isolated in 1979 and causes an economically important and severe disease in young susceptible chickens and immunosuppression in adult birds (12); the other members of the genus are more-recent discoveries.…”

“…CAV was first isolated in 1979 and causes an economically important and severe disease in young susceptible chickens and immunosuppression in adult birds (12); the other members of the genus are more-recent discoveries. HGV-specific DNA has been detected in both healthy human skin swabs and fecal samples from patients with diarrhea (3,11). AVG2 was first discovered in the sera of backyard adult chickens in southern Brazil in 2008 with symptoms of apathy, weight loss, and brain lesions (10) and subsequently in the Netherlands (5).…”

“…AVG2 was first discovered in the sera of backyard adult chickens in southern Brazil in 2008 with symptoms of apathy, weight loss, and brain lesions (10) and subsequently in the Netherlands (5). Chu et al (3) suggested that AGV and HGV are essentially the same virus with nucleotide homology of .92%, as they could find no phylogenetic distinction between viruses of human or chicken origin. The genomes of AGV2 and CAV are only about 40% identical (10).…”