Abstract
Since the characterization of psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) in 1984, a wide range of avian circoviruses have been discovered with varying pathogenic effects amongst a diverse range of avian hosts. Until recently these circovirus species were thought to be restricted to within avian Orders such as the Psittaciformes for beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) and Columbiformes for pigeon circovirus with little evidence of cross-family transmission or replication. We report evidence of a naturally occurring novel host switch event with self-limiting BFDV infection in a group of rainbow bee-eaters (Merops ornatus) a species of Coraciiformes unrelated to parrots and not previously known to be susceptible to any avian circovirus. The outbreak highlights important and unexpected aspects of disease emergence and host-switching pertinent to other situations when viruses might cross species boundaries as well as the potential of avian circoviruses to infect disparate host species.
Highlights
Since the characterization of psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) in 1984, a wide range of avian circoviruses have been discovered with varying pathogenic effects amongst a diverse range of avian hosts
A number of avian circoviruses have recently been discovered with varying pathogenic effects in a diverse range of passerine hosts including the canary (Serinus canaria), Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae), common starling (Sternus vulgaris) and Australian raven (Corvus coronoides) which are all naturally susceptible to avian circovirus species[3,4,5,6]
HA was not detected in feather samples and anti-beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody was not detected in blood from any of the rainbow bee-eater samples tested
Summary
Since the characterization of psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) in 1984, a wide range of avian circoviruses have been discovered with varying pathogenic effects amongst a diverse range of avian hosts Until recently these circovirus species were thought to be restricted to within avian Orders such as the Psittaciformes for beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) and Columbiformes for pigeon circovirus with little evidence of cross-family transmission or replication. Whilst BFDV is subject to a high mutation rate, approaching that of RNA viruses, strong recombination pressure and regular cross-species transmission occurs throughout the Psittaciformes[14,15,16] Whilst it has a worldwide distribution in captive birds, where high rates of transmission and a rich viral genetic diversity can occur in captivity, recent genetic analysis supports Australia as the most likely source of all global BFDV genotypes[12,17,18]. The outbreak highlights important and unexpected aspects of cryptic disease emergence and host-switching pertinent to other situations when viruses undergo spillover across relatively deep phylogenetic divides
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