A group of Spanish and Danish scientists reported a new virus discovered in an owl in Spain. The infection manifests as a neurological disease and clinically resembles West Nile fever, according to the Spanish veterinary portal Animal’s Health.
The infection was discovered in an adult male owl, which was found by passersby and taken to the rehabilitation center Acción por el Mundo Salvaje (AMUS) in Villafranca de los Barros, specializing in helping wild animals.
The bird exhibited symptoms of ataxia (coordination disorder) and deteriorating vision, which ultimately led to its death. During the autopsy, abnormal changes were found in the abdominal organs, as well as signs of neurological disorder. This led scientists to suggest that the bird may have been infected with the West Nile virus or a similar flavivirus, which are transmitted by mosquitoes and actively circulate among wild birds and horses in the area.
However, analysis of nerve tissue samples revealed the presence of a previously uncharacterized sequence that matches more than 83% with canary bornavirus 2 (CnBV-2). Scientists determined that the new virus belongs to the species Orthobornavirus serini and was named “barnavirus 1 of the owl” (BoBV-1).
“As far as we know, this is the first case of a new virus belonging to Orthobornavirus serini being identified in non-passerine birds, particularly in an owl, which is a nocturnal predator,” the publication quotes the researchers' statement.
Scientists suggested that the infection of the owl may have occurred during predatory behavior and noted an increase in cases of bornavirus infections among various species of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish. According to specialists, this underscores the need for systematic searches for bornaviruses in various bird species with neurological symptoms.
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