Novel Coronavirus and Astrovirus in Delaware Bay Shorebirds

• Main Authors: Honkavuori, Kirsi, Briese, Thomas, Krauss, Scott, Sanchez, Maria D., Jain, Komal, Hutchison, Stephen K., Webster, Robret G., Lipkin, W. Ian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science 2014
• Subjects: Birds > Diseases; Birds > Virus diseases; Shore birds; Coronaviruses; Birds; Epidemiology; Virology; Ruddy Turnstone; Sanderling
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7916/D89K4BH2

Background: Wild birds are an important but to some extent under-studied reservoir for emerging pathogens. We used unbiased sequencing methods for virus discovery in shorebird samples from the Delaware Bay, USA; an important feeding ground for thousands of migratory birds. Findings: Analysis of shorebird fecal samples indicated the presence of a novel astrovirus and coronavirus. A sanderling sample yielded sequences with distant homology to avian nephritis virus 1, an astrovirus associated with acute nephritis in poultry. A ruddy turnstone sample yielded sequences with homology to deltacoronaviruses. Conclusions: Our findings highlight shorebirds as a virus reservoir and the need to closely monitor wild bird populations for the emergence of novel virus variants.