Novel Chaphamaparvovirus in a Paradise Tanager Songbird with Encephalitis, Neuritis, and Ventriculitis.

Parvoviridae family being an extremely fast-growing family and is open to novel viral discoveries. Many new parvoviruses from different vertebrates and invertebrates hosts have been discovered in recent years. The taxonomy has changed with new classification by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The subfamily Hamaparvovirinae has been added to the prior subfamilies that consisted of Parvovirinae and Densovirinae. Chaphamaparvovirus is a recently identified genus of Hamaparvovirinae, including some members associated with nephropathy in laboratory mice and high mortality in Tilapia fish. Samples from a deceased Northern paradise tanager (Tangara chilensis paradisea) with nonsuppurative encephalitis, neuritis, and ventriculitis were examined by light microscopy and ancillary histochemical stains for bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and other parasites. Samples were also analyzed by PCR for general protozoa, paramyxovirus, avian bornavirus, and herpesvirus. None of these known pathogens were detected. Using viral metagenomics we identified and characterized the genome of a novel chaphamaparvovirus in tissues of this bird. No other viral sequences were identified. This virus's contributory role to these lesions will require further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]