Genomic characterization of a novel sakobuvirus (family Picornaviridae) from a European badger (Meles meles) in Hungary

Since 2012, sakobuvirus and sakobuvirus-like (family Picornaviridae) sequences have been detected in felines, wild boars, badgers, and fur seals. In this study, we determined the genome sequence of a novel sakobuvirus identified in faecal samples from European badgers (Meles meles) in Hungary. The strain SakV/badger/B40B/2022/HUN (PQ382029) has a type IV internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and'barbell-like' structures in its 5' and 3'UTRs, with a genomic layout that matches the L-1AB-1C-1D/2A^{H - Box/NC}-2B-2C/3A-3B-3C-3D structure. The most closely related strain, SaKoV/Badger/3A_2019/ITA (OP293080), shows 82.8%, 82.5%, and 80.4% amino acid sequence identity in the proteins P1, 2C, and 3CD, respectively, indicating that different sakobuviruses can potentially circulate among members of the same host species in geographically different regions.