First Report of Emerging Chaphamaparvovirus Causing Necrotizing Hepatitis in Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in the United States

A mortality of young pheasants (<i>Phasianus colchicus</i>) with necrotizing hepatitis was reported on a farm in California. Ultrastructurally, nonenveloped, icosahedral, 24 nm (SD = 2 nm) viral particles were detected in the liver. Whole-genome sequencing detected a chaphamaparvovirus from the liver sharing 94.4% nucleotide identity with <i>Phasianus chaphamaparvovirus</i>-1 (PhChPV-1). This is the first report of PhChPV-1 causing necrotizing hepatitis in pheasants in the United States. Since these pheasants are used for hunting activities, the spreading of PhChPV-1 into the wild should be taken into consideration.