Circoviridae Survey in Captive Non-Human Primates, Italy
Vittorio Sarchese, Federica Di Profio, Andrea Palombieri, Klaus Gunther Friedrich, Serena Robetto, Krisztian Banyai, Fulvio Marsilio, Vito Martella, Barbara Di Martino

TL;DR
This study found circoviruses in non-human primates in Italy, showing genetic similarity to a virus found in a lizard, suggesting possible cross-species transmission.
Contribution
The study reports the detection of CyV strains in non-human primates with high genetic similarity to a CyV strain from a lizard, expanding understanding of circovirus host range.
Findings
CyV DNA was detected in 18.7% of 48 non-human primates in Italy.
Five CyV strains showed 98.3–98.6% nucleotide identity to a CyV strain from a Maltese wall lizard.
The virome of captive animals is influenced by dietary and environmental factors.
Abstract
Information on the host range and genetic diversity of members of the Circoviridae family is quickly increasing, but the ecology of these viruses remains largely unknown. In this study, using a panviral PCR targeting the Rep gene, we detected CyV DNA in rectal and saliva swabs collected from 48 NHPs housed in Bioparco—Rome Zoological Garden (Italy) and in the Anima Natura Wild Sanctuary Semproniano (Grosseto, Italy), with an overall prevalence of 18.7% (9/48). When reconstructing the sequence and genome organization of five strains, all CyVs appeared genetically highly related (98.3–98.6% nucleotide identity) to a CyV strain (RI196/ITA) detected in the intestinal content of a Maltese wall lizard (Podarcis filfolensis) in Italy. Circoviruses (CVs) and cycloviruses (CyVs), members of the family Circoviridae, have been identified only occasionally in non-human primates (NHPs). In this…
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Taxonomy
TopicsAnimal Virus Infections Studies · Virus-based gene therapy research · Plant Virus Research Studies
