Metagenomic analysis of the shrew enteric virome reveals novel viruses related to human stool-associated viruses.
Shrews are small insectivorous mammals that are distributed worldwide. Similar to rodents, shrews live on the ground and are commonly found near human residences. In this study, we investigated the enteric virome of wild shrews in the genus Crocidura using a sequence-independent viral metagenomics approach. A large portion of the shrew enteric virome was composed of insect viruses, whilst novel viruses including cyclovirus, picornavirus and picorna-like virus were also identified. Several cycloviruses, including variants of human cycloviruses detected in cerebrospinal fluid and stools, were detected in wild shrews at a high prevalence rate. The identified picornavirus was distantly related to human parechovirus, inferring the presence of a new genus in this family. The identified picorna-like viruses were characterized as different species of calhevirus 1, which was discovered previously in human stools. Complete or nearly complete genome sequences of these novel viruses were determined in this study and then were subjected to further genetic characterization. Our study provides an initial view of the diversity and distinctiveness of the shrew enteric virome and highlights unique novel viruses related to human stool-associated viruses.
Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N20, W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan.
Michihito
M
Sasaki
Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N20, W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan.
Yasuko
Y
Orba
Division of Bioinformatics, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N20, W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan.
Keisuke
K
Ueno
Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Akihiro
A
Ishii
Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary and Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Ladslav
L
Moonga
Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary and Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Bernard M
BM
Hang'ombe
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary and Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Aaron S
AS
Mweene
Division of Bioinformatics, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N20, W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan.
Kimihito
K
Ito
Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education, Hokkaido University, N20, W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan.|Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N20, W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan.
Hirofumi
H
Sawa
D000818:Animals; D058448:Biota; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D007422:Intestines / Q000821:virology*; D054892:Metagenome; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012788:Shrews / Q000821:virology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*