Novel coronavirus and astrovirus in Delaware Bay shorebirds.
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.


RESULTS
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.
Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Kirsi S
KS
Honkavuori
Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Thomas
T
Briese
Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America.
Scott
S
Krauss
Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Maria D
MD
Sanchez
Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Komal
K
Jain
454 Life Sciences, Branford, Connecticut, United States of America.
Stephen K
SK
Hutchison
Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America.
Robert G
RG
Webster
Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
W Ian
WI
Lipkin
D000818:Animals; D019200:Astroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D019350:Astroviridae Infections / Q000821:virology; D061006:Bays; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology*; D017934:Coronavirus / Q000235:genetics*; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000821:virology; D003691:Delaware; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry