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Carnivore protoparvovirus 1 is one of the most important pathogens affecting both wild and domestic carnivores. Here, we reported the genetic characterization of canine parvovirus (CPV‐2) strains from a rescued guiña (Leopardus guigna) and domestic dogs from Chile. Guiña strain was classified as CPV‐2c, and phylogenetic analysis of the complete coding genome showed that the guiña CPV‐2c strain shares a recent common ancestor with Chilean domestic dogs' strains. These viruses showed >99% identity and exhibited three changes in the NS1 protein (V596A, E661K and L582F). This is the first detection and genetic characterization of CPV‐2c infection in guiña worldwide, and one of the few comparative studies that show the source of infection was domestic dogs. The current findings highlight the fact that guiña is a susceptible species to protoparvovirus infection and that domestic dogs represent an important threat to its conservation. The CPV‐2 cross‐species transmission between domestic dogs and guiña should be taken into account for protection programmes of this endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Avian influenza viruses (genus Alphainfluenzavirus , family Orthomyxoviridae ) infect avian and mammal hosts. In 2022, the high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (H5N1) spread to South America, resulting in the loss of thousands of wild birds, including endangered species, and severely impacting the global poultry industry., Objectives: We analyzed the complete genomes of influenza viruses obtained from wild birds and backyard poultry in Uruguay between February and May 2023., Methods: Twelve complete genomes were obtained in 2023 from cloacal swabs using Illumina sequencing. Genomes were phylogenetically analyzed with regional and global strains., Findings: The identified strains have multiple basic amino acids at the hemagglutinin cleavage sites, which is typical for highly pathogenic strains. The Uruguayan viruses belonged to hemagglutinin clade 2.3.4.4b of the H5N1 subtype. A reassortment in North America has resulted in some segments of South American strains being of Eurasian or North American origins. The Uruguayan viruses shared a common ancestor with South American strains from Argentina and Chile. The influenza viruses displayed a spatiotemporal divergence pattern rather than being host-specific., Main Conclusions: The arrival of the 2.3.4.4b clade in Uruguay may have been mediated by birds that acquired the virus from Argentine and Chilean waterfowl migrating in the Pacific Flyway.