Novel avian hepadnaviruses in passerine birds
Abstract We identified hepadnaviruses in passerine birds. The virus was detected in four eggs from Gouldian finches ( Chloebia gouldiae ), in three feather quills, and in a liver sample from other ornamental birds. The full-length circular genome (~3 kb in length) of hepadnavirus strains detected in a Gouldian finch, a Society finch ( Lonchura striata domestica ) and a Long-tailed finch ( Poephila acuticauda ) was reconstructed. Hepadnavirus replicative circular DNA was detected in the egg and quill samples, suggesting the presence of cccDNA in these sites. The viruses were genetically distantly related to other avian hepadnaviruses and endogenous hepadnavirus elements, suggesting geographical or host-species restriction in passerine birds.
Authors
- Elena Circella (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9625-2920)
- Gianvito Lanave (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4614-677X)
- Gaia Casalino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2342-1903)
- Barbara Di Martino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6192-7166)
- Francesco Pellegrini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0026-8472)
- Vito Martella (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5740-6947)
- Georgia Diakoudi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7305-5630)
- Roberto Lombardi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9558-6125)
- Antonio Camarda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3961-585X)
- Krisztián Bànyai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6270-1772)
- Tiago Bugarim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8171-6834)
- Michele Camero
Institutions
- University of Teramo (IT)
- University of Veterinary Medicine (HU)
- University of Bari Aldo Moro (IT)
- University of Pecs (HU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2026-10-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-68396-8
- Primary Topic
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00