title: A novel group of avian astroviruses in wild aquatic birds.
abstract: Using a pan-astrovirus reverse transcription-PCR assay, a great diversity of novel avastroviruses was detected from wild bird and poultry samples. Two groups of astroviruses detected from wild birds are genetically related or highly similar to previously known viruses in poultry. Most interestingly, a novel group of astroviruses was detected in wild aquatic birds. Our results also reveal that different groups of astroviruses might have difference host ranges. This study has expanded our understanding regarding avastrovirus ecology.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Centre for Influenza Research and School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Daniel K W
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Connie Y H
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Harsha K K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: Erica M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Priscilla H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Joyner
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grioni
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ades
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Joseph S M
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Peiris
authors.forename: Leo L M
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Poon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D019200:Astroviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013045:Species Specificity