OmniVira

Molecular epidemiological surveillance of circovirus in avian and mammalian species on the Brazilian coast.

Ana Julia Chaves Gomes1 Yasmin Luisa Neves Lemes Garcia1 Dayla Bott Geraldini1 Camila Domit2 Fábio Henrique de Lima2 João Pessoa Araújo3 Juliana Schons Gularte4 Micheli Filippi4 Vyctoria Malayhka de Abreu Góes Pereira4 Meriane Demoliner4 Alexandre Sita4 Fernando Rosado Spilki4 Marília de Freitas Calmon1 Paula Rahal1 Vivaldo Gomes da Costa5
Affiliations 5 institutions
  1. Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, 15054-000, SP, Brazil.
  2. Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), 83255-976, PR, Pontal do Paraná, Brazil.
  3. Veterinary Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Biotechnology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, 01049-010, SP, Brazil.
  4. Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo, 93525-075, RS, Brazil.
  5. Genomics Laboratory, Department of Biology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José do Rio Preto, 15054-000, SP, Brazil. [email protected].
PMID42209892 DOI10.1007/s00705-026-06659-5 Year2026 Journal Archives of virology Arch Virol Languageeng Statusepublish

Abstract

Circoviruses (CVs) infect diverse mammals, birds, and freshwater fish and are linked to diseases causing major economic losses. Despite being well studied in psittacines, their circulation in other avian groups and mammals is poorly understood. We conducted molecular surveillance of CVs in migratory birds and mammals along the Paraná coast, southern Brazil. Sterna hirundinacea specimen tested positive by Nested-PCR for GullCV. In the GullCV-infected bird, histopathology revealed nonspecific lesions, including marked splenic lymphoid atrophy, cachexia-related changes, acute tubular necrosis, and generalized congestion. Sanger sequencing revealed 83% nucleotide identity with CV sequences previously reported in gulls from the United States, which was consistent with results obtained by NGS and Rep-based phylogenetic analysis. These findings contribute to the understanding of CV diversity, distribution, and host range.

Supporting text Virus Host Location
Bird Diseases 23 Circoviridae Infections 4 Circovirus 6 Animals 1948 Birds 212 Brazil 50 Epidemiological Monitoring 27 Mammals 92 Molecular Epidemiology 21 Phylogeny 805 Sequence Analysis, DNA 113

Evidence records

2 total
Zoonotic Surveillance
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Viral Detection
1 records
OVE11203 Viral Detection
Key finding

GullCV circovirus was detected by Nested-PCR in a Sterna hirundinacea specimen collected along the Paraná coast, southern Brazil.

Virus
gull circovirus
Host
South American tern Sterna hirundinacea Natural host
Location
Brazil
Supporting text

We conducted molecular surveillance of CVs in migratory birds and mammals along the Paraná coast, southern Brazil. Sterna hirundinacea specimen tested positive by Nested-PCR for GullCV.

Method
Nested-PCR
Sample type
specimen
Geographic raw
Paraná coast, southern Brazil
Genomic Evolution
1 records · 1 evidence types
Evidence type Phylogenetic Evolution
1 records
OVE11204 Phylogenetic Evolution
Key finding

Rep-based phylogenetic analysis showed that GullCV detected in Sterna hirundinacea from southern Brazil shares 83% nucleotide identity with circovirus sequences from gulls in the United States, indicating close evolutionary relatedness.

Virus
gull circovirus CV sequences from gulls
Host
South American tern Sterna hirundinacea Natural host gulls Laridae Natural host
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Sanger sequencing revealed 83% nucleotide identity with CV sequences previously reported in gulls from the United States, which was consistent with results obtained by NGS and Rep-based phylogenetic analysis.

Genes or proteins
Rep
Analysis methods
Sanger sequencing | NGS | Rep-based phylogenetic analysis