ARS | Publication request: Identification and characterization of RNA viruses in the turkey gut using metagenomics: an abundance of picornaviruses and other “small, round viruses”

Submitted to: Western Poultry Disease Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 13, 2009
Publication Date: April 19, 2010
Citation: Day, J.M. and Zsak, L. 2010. Identification and characterization of RNA viruses in the turkey gut using metagenomics: an abundance of picornaviruses and other “small, round viruses” [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 59th Western Poultry Disease Conference, April 18-21, 2010, Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 20.

Technical Abstract: Poultry enteric disease is marked by diarrhea, stunting, immune dysfunction and mortality. Numerous viruses have been detected in the poultry gut, and have subsequently been implicated in enteric disease.Knowledge of the complete viral flora present in the poultry gut would facilitate the development of novel diagnostic tests and treatment options. Intestines from turkey farms with enteric disease were processed toconcentrate virus particles from which ribonucleic acid (RNA) was isolated. From this RNA pool, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) was produced and used in high-throughput pyrosequencing using Genome Sequencer FLX Titanium technology (Roche). The sequences were used to assemble 6526 contigs ranging in size from 97 to 2578 base pairs. 788 contigs had similarity to RNA viral sequences,including sequences from the double-stranded RNA viruses (Reoviridae and Picobirnaviruses), and the single-stranded RNA viruses(Caliciviridae, Leviviridae, Picornavirales, and Astroviridae). The majority of the viral contigs showed similarity to database sequences from the Picornavirales order, including representative viral sequences from members of the Cardiovirus, Kobuvirus, and Teschovirus genera.