Abstract
A fox circovirus was identified in serum samples from foxes with unexplained neurologic signs by using viral metagenomics. Fox circovirus nucleic acid was localized in histological lesions of the cerebrum by in situ hybridization. Viruses from the family Circoviridae may have neurologic tropism more commonly than previously anticipated.
Highlights
A fox circovirus was identified in serum samples from foxes with unexplained neurologic signs by using viral metagenomics
Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genomes were closely related to those of the recently described canine circoviruses [3,13], displaying ≈92% amino acid identity in the replication initiator protein gene (Rep) protein and ≈89% nt sequence identity across the entire genome
Our findings indicate that circoviruses commonly cause systemic infections in wild foxes in the United Kingdom and can be detected in the brains of foxes with neurologic disease
Summary
Our findings indicate that circoviruses commonly cause systemic infections in wild foxes in the United Kingdom and can be detected in the brains of foxes with neurologic disease. It has been suggested that circoviruses are involved in a plethora of diseases in pigs, dogs, and birds [1,3,4,5]. The canine circovirus may be associated with development of vasculitis in dogs [3], and an overall virus prevalence in serum samples of ≈3% has been reported [3,13]. We found that the prevalence of fox circovirus in serum samples from foxes with and without neurologic disease was much higher and more
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