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Review
. 2015 Feb:10:63-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2015.01.006. Epub 2015 Jan 31.

Cross-species transmission and emergence of novel viruses from birds

Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan  1 , Kelvin Kai-Wang To  1 , Honglin Chen  1 , Kwok-Yung Yuen  2
Affiliations
Review

Cross-species transmission and emergence of novel viruses from birds

Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan et al. Curr Opin Virol. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Birds, the only living member of the Dinosauria clade, are flying warm-blooded vertebrates displaying high species biodiversity, roosting and migratory behavior, and a unique adaptive immune system. Birds provide the natural reservoir for numerous viral species and therefore gene source for evolution, emergence and dissemination of novel viruses. The intrusions of human into natural habitats of wild birds, the domestication of wild birds as pets or racing birds, and the increasing poultry consumption by human have facilitated avian viruses to cross species barriers to cause zoonosis. Recently, a novel adenovirus was exclusively found in birds causing an outbreak of Chlamydophila psittaci infection among birds and humans. Instead of being the primary cause of an outbreak by jumping directly from bird to human, a novel avian virus can be an augmenter of another zoonotic agent causing the outbreak. A comprehensive avian virome will improve our understanding of birds' evolutionary dynamics.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Birds as the gene source and amplifying host in cross-species transmission and emergence of novel viruses. Abbreviations: CCHFV, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus; CoV, coronavirus; EEV, equine encephalitis virus; FPV, Fowlpox virus; IAV, influenza A virus; JEV, Japanese encephalitis virus; NDV, Newcastle disease virus; TEV, tick-borne encephalitis virus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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    2. A comprehensive review of how the unique avian adaptive immune system facilitates interspecies transmission and emergence of novel viruses.

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Publications for further reading and for Supplementary tables

    1. Bodewes R., van de Bildt M.W., Schapendonk C.M., van Leeuwen M., van Boheemen S., de Jong A.A., Osterhaus A.D., Smits S.L., Kuiken T. Identification and characterization of a novel adenovirus in the cloacal bursa of gulls. Virology. 2013;440:84–88. - PubMed
    1. Marek A., Ballmann M.Z., Kosiol C., Harrach B., Schlotterer C., Hess M. Whole-genome sequences of two turkey adenovirus types reveal the existence of two unknown lineages that merit the establishment of novel species within the genus Aviadenovirus. J Gen Virol. 2014;95:156–170. - PubMed
    1. Park Y.M., Kim J.H., Gu S.H., Lee S.Y., Lee M.G., Kang Y.K., Kang S.H., Kim H.J., Song J.W. Full genome analysis of a novel adenovirus from the South Polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki) in Antarctica. Virology. 2012;422:144–150. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lee S.Y., Kim J.H., Park Y.M., Shin O.S., Kim H., Choi H.G., Song J.W. A novel adenovirus in Chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarctica) in Antarctica. Viruses. 2014;6:2052–2061. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Joseph H.M., Ballmann M.Z., Garner M.M., Hanley C.S., Berlinski R., Erdelyi K., Childress A.L., Fish S.S., Harrach B., Wellehan J.F., Jr. A novel siadenovirus detected in the kidneys and liver of Gouldian finches (Erythura gouldiae) Vet Microbiol. 2014;172:35–43. - PubMed

Publication types