First Report on Detection and Molecular Characterization of Adenoviruses in the Small Indian Mongoose ( Urva auropunctata )

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 13; no. 11; p. 2194
• Main Authors: Gainor, Kerry, Becker, Anne A M J, Malik, Yashpal S, Ghosh, Souvik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 30.10.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Adenoviridae - classification; Adenoviridae - genetics; Adenoviridae - isolation & purification; Adenoviridae Infections - veterinary; Adenoviridae Infections - virology; adenovirus; Adenoviruses; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; atadenovirus; Atadenovirus - classification; Atadenovirus - genetics; Atadenovirus - isolation & purification; Birds; Communication; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA-dependent DNA polymerase (pol); DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Feces; Feces - virology; Herpestidae - virology; Homology; Lizards - virology; mastadenovirus; Mastadenovirus - classification; Mastadenovirus - genetics; Mastadenovirus - isolation & purification; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Pol gene; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Population; Reptiles & amphibians; small Indian mongoose; Turtles - virology; Viruses; West Indies; West Indies; United States > US; small Indian mongoose; atadenovirus; DNA-dependent DNA polymerase (pol); adenovirus; mastadenovirus
• DOI: 10.3390/v13112194
• ISSN: 1999-4915

Using a broad-range nested PCR assay targeting the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase ( ) gene, we detected adenoviruses in 17 (20.48%) out of 83 fecal samples from small Indian mongooses ( ) on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. All 17 PCR amplicons were sequenced for the partial gene (~300 bp, hereafter referred to as Mon sequences). Fourteen of the 17 Mon sequences shared maximum homology (98.3-99.6% and 97-98.9% nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) sequence identities, respectively) with that of bovine adenovirus-6 (species ). Mongoose-associated adenovirus Mon-39 was most closely related (absolute nt and deduced aa identities) to an atadenovirus from a tropical screech owl. Mon-66 shared maximum nt and deduced aa identities of 69% and 71.4% with those of atadenoviruses from a spur-thighed tortoise and a brown anole lizard, respectively. Phylogenetically, Mon-39 and Mon-66 clustered within clades that were predominated by atadenoviruses from reptiles, indicating a reptilian origin of these viruses. Only a single mongoose-associated adenovirus, Mon-34, was related to the genus . However, phylogenetically, Mon-34 formed an isolated branch, distinct from other mastadenoviruses. Since the fecal samples were collected from apparently healthy mongooses, we could not determine whether the mongoose-associated adenoviruses infected the host. On the other hand, the phylogenetic clustering patterns of the mongoose-associated atadenoviruses pointed more towards a dietary origin of these viruses. Although the present study was based on partial pol sequences (~90 aa), sequence identities and phylogenetic analysis suggested that Mon-34, Mon-39, and Mon-66 might represent novel adenoviruses. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the detection and molecular characterization of adenoviruses from the mongoose.