Sergei V. Drovetski
Koray Ergunay
Yvonne-Marie Linton
Gary Voelker
Brian P. Bourke
2026
<p><span id="_mce_caret" data-mce-bogus="1" data-mce-type="format-caret"><span>Viruses are the most abundant and diverse organisms on Earth, though only a small portion cause disease. Understanding viral diversity is key to understanding and predicting pathogen emergence and zoonotic spillover. Here, we use meta-transcriptomic sequencing to examine the viral communities in the ileum of 25 Northern Mockingbirds (</span><i>Mimus polyglottos</i><span>) from various locations across Texas. We assembled high-quality genomes of 43 viral species (40 species identified to 13 families, one to kingdom, and two to realm), 38 of which were novel. They tentatively represent avian- (n = 3), arthropod- (n = 21), plant- (n = 5) and fungi- (n = 4) associated, or other (n = 10) viruses. The arthropod-associated </span><i>Dicistroviridae</i><span> family was the most dominant, comprising known and potentially new species. Of potential epidemiological importance were three novel and avian-associated viruses: members of the families </span><i>Hepeviridae</i><span> and </span><i>Picornaviridae</i><span>, and a new Matryoshka RNA virus. The Matryoshka RNA virus 8 (MaRNAV-8) is sister to other Matryoshka RNA viruses, and its co-occurrence with haemosporida further supports the nested virus-parasite-vector-vertebrate host relationship of this group of viruses, with potential implications for parasite evolution, fitness and load and vector competence. The </span><i>Picornaviridae</i><span> virus is a member of an avian hepatovirus clade, found nested within a clade containing both the mammalian pathogens </span><i>Hepatovirus A</i><span> – </span><i>I</i><span> and the avian </span><i>Tremovirus</i><span> pathogens, suggestive of a newly discovered pathogen of Northern Mockingbird. Although the recovered </span><i>Hepeviridae</i><span> virus is of unknown pathology, its family members include the Hepatitis E viruses. With the great diversity and novelty described from ileal viromes, discriminating potential pathogens and commensal microbiota from viruses associated with food items remains challenging. A deeper understanding of virus transmission and the risk of potential zoonosis can be enhanced by tracking viruses through the food web and via inter-specific and predator-prey interactions, particular in areas subject to land-use change, where human-wildlife interactions are increased and the risks from emerging pathogens of veterinary and medical importance are more pronounced.</span></span></p>
application/pdf
10.1007/s00705-026-06575-8
en
Springer Nature
Diverse novel and avian-associated viruses in the ileal viromes of northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
article