Genetic diversity of astroviruses detected in wild aquatic birds in Hong Kong

• Published in: Virology journal Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 153
• Main Authors: Ng, Daisy Y. M., Sun, Wanying, Sit, Thomas H. C., Brackman, Christopher J., Tse, Anne C. N., Bui, Christine H. T., Tang, Amy W. Y., Wong, Andrew N. C., Tsang, Andrew T. L., Koo, Joe C. T., Cheng, Samuel M. S., Peiris, Malik, Chin, Alex W. H., Poon, Leo L. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 07.07.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Animals as carriers of disease; Animals, Wild - virology; Aquatic bird; Astroviridae - classification; Astroviridae - genetics; Astroviridae - isolation & purification; Astroviridae Infections - veterinary; Astroviridae Infections - virology; Astrovirus; Avastrovirus; Avastrovirus - classification; Avastrovirus - genetics; Avastrovirus - isolation & purification; Biological diversity; Bird Diseases - virology; Birds - virology; China; Distribution; DNA barcoding; Feces - virology; Genetic aspects; genetic distance; Genetic Variation; Genome, Viral; Health aspects; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Hong Kong; Identification and classification; mammals; Open Reading Frames; Phylogeny; reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; RNA viruses; RNA, Viral - genetics; start codon; stop codon; Virus research; Waterfowl; Hong Kong; Hong Kong, China; China; Astrovirus; Aquatic bird; Avastrovirus
• ISSN: 1743-422X; 1743-422X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02423-w

Wild waterfowl serve as a reservoir of some astroviruses. Fecal samples from wild waterfowl collected at Hong Kong's Marshes were tested using pan-astrovirus reverse transcription-PCR. Positive samples underwent subsequent host identification using DNA barcoding. Based on deduced partial sequences, noteworthy samples from three astrovirus groups (mammalian, avian and unclassified astroviruses) were further analyzed by next-generation sequencing. One sample of Avastrovirus 4 clade, MP22-196, had a nearly complete genome identified. The results of ORF2 phylogenetic analysis and genetic distance analysis indicate that Avastrovirus 4 is classified as a distinct subclade within Avastrovirus . MP22-196 has typical astrovirus genome characteristics. The unique characteristics and potential differences of this genome, compared to other avian astrovirus sequences, involve the identification of a modified sgRNA sequence situated near the ORF2 start codon, which precedes the ORF1b stop codon. Additionally, the 3' UTR of MP22-196 is shorter than other avian astroviruses. This study expands our understanding of the Avastrovirus 4 clade.