Key result
Genomic analysis reveals active γ-CoV cross-species transmission among wild birds, poultry, and marine mammals.
Why the study?
Gammacoronaviruses are widely distributed and can lead to sustained transmission and economic loss, but their diversity in wild birds requires better understanding.
Cross-Sectional (n=482)
The study identifies five new gammacoronavirus strains in wild birds in China and provides evidence of active cross-species transmission among marine mammals, wild birds, and poultry.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Surveillance detects ongoing γ-CoV transmission in wildlife; leaves open zoonotic spillover risks for human monitoring.
Gammacoronavirus (γ-CoV) primarily infects poultry, wild birds, and marine mammals. The widespread distribution and circulation of γ-CoV in the ecological environment may lead to sustained transmission and economic loss. To better understand the diversity of γ-CoV in wild birds, we collect 482 wild-bird fecal samples from Yunnan, encompassing fourteen bird species. We detected twelve γ-CoV positive samples in five bird species, with the characterization of five complete genomes - HNU5-1, HNU5-2, HNU5-3, HNU6-1, and HNU6-2-indicating that these genomes represent two viral species. The HNU5 strains were derived from Black-headed gull ( Chroicocephalus ridibundus ), while the HNU6 strains were came from Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ), and both of those were recombinant. The HNU5 strain exhibited the highest sequence identity (95.45%) with a γ-CoV strain isolated from Numenius phaeopus (GenBank accession: PP845452 ). Similarly, the HNU6 strain showed 95.18% nucleotide identity with a γ-CoV strain (GenBank accession: PP845437 ) derived from Anas platyrhynchos . Taxonomic analysis confirmed that HNU6s belong to the Gammacoronavirus anatis species, while HNU5s attributed to a new species. Cross-species analysis revealed active host-switching events among γ-CoVs, indicating potential transmission of γ-CoVs from marine mammals to wild bird, from wild bird to poultry, and inter-wild bird and inter-poultry transmission. In summary, we report five new γ-CoV strains in wild birds and outline the cross-species transmission of γ-CoVs. Our findings link γ-CoV hosts across different natural environments and provide new insights for exploring γ-CoVs.
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Wang et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Gammacoronavirus (γ-CoV) infection (n=482). Viral genomic characterization was evaluated on Detection and characterization of γ-CoV genomes. Genomic analysis of 482 wild-bird fecal samples identified 12 γ-CoV positive samples and 5 complete genomes, revealing active cross-species transmission among wild birds, poultry, and marine mammals.
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