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Journal of Virology, September 2004, p. 9277-9284, Vol. 78, No. 17
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.17.9277-9284.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Evidence of Unique Genotypes of Beak and Feather Disease Virus in Southern Africa

Livio Heath,1 Darren P. Martin,1,2 Louise Warburton,3 Mike Perrin,3 William Horsfield,4 Chris Kingsley,5 Edward P. Rybicki,1,2*,{dagger} and Anna-Lise Williamson2,6,{dagger}

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch,1 Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences,2 National Health Laboratory Service, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925,6 Research Centre for African Parrot Conservation, School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal, Scottsville,3 Amazona Endangered Parrot Breeding Facility, Assagay,4 South African Avicultural Association, Pretoria, South Africa5

Received 5 December 2003/ Accepted 1 April 2004

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), caused by Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), is the most significant infectious disease in psittacines. PBFD is thought to have originated in Australia but is now found worldwide; in Africa, it threatens the survival of the indigenous endangered Cape parrot and the vulnerable black-cheeked lovebird. We investigated the genetic diversity of putative BFDVs from southern Africa. Feathers and heparinized blood samples were collected from 27 birds representing 9 psittacine species, all showing clinical signs of PBFD. DNA extracted from these samples was used for PCR amplification of the putative BFDV coat protein (CP) gene. The nucleotide sequences of the CP genes of 19 unique BFDV isolates were determined and compared with the 24 previously described sequences of BFDV isolates from Australasia and America. Phylogenetic analysis revealed eight BFDV lineages, with the southern African isolates representing at least three distinctly unique genotypes; 10 complete genome sequences were determined, representing at least one of every distinct lineage. The nucleotide diversity of the southern African isolates was calculated to be 6.4% and is comparable to that found in Australia and New Zealand. BFDVs in southern Africa have, however, diverged substantially from viruses found in other parts of the world, as the average distance between the southern African isolates and BFDV isolates from Australia ranged from 8.3 to 10.8%. In addition to point mutations, recombination was found to contribute substantially to the level of genetic variation among BFDVs, with evidence of recombination in all but one of the genomes analyzed.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa. Phone: 27-21-650 3265. Fax: 27-21-689 7573. E-mail: ed{at}science.uct.ac.za.

{dagger} E.P.R. and A.-L.W. contributed equally to this article.

Journal of Virology, September 2004, p. 9277-9284, Vol. 78, No. 17
0022-538X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.78.17.9277-9284.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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