POECIVIRUS IS PRESENT IN INDIVIDUALS WITH BEAK DEFORMITIES IN SEVEN SPECIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS

Avian keratin disorder (AKD), a disease of unknown etiology characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth, has increasingly affected wild bird populations since the 1990s. A novel picornavirus, poecivirus, is closely correlated with status in Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) Alaska, US. However, our knowledge relationship between poecivirus and deformities other species geographic areas remains limited. The growing scope number AKD-like require better understanding causative agent to evaluate population-level impacts this epizootic. Here, we tested eight individuals from six avian AKD-consistent for presence poecivirus: Mew Gull (Larus canus), Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus), Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia), American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata). birds were sampled Alaska Maine (1999–2016). We used targeted PCR followed Sanger sequencing test each specimen obtain viral genome sequence virus-positive host individuals. detected all tested, but not negative controls (water tissue samples). Furthermore, unbiased metagenomic pathogens these specimens (Hairy Woodpecker, two Crows, Nuthatches, Warbler). This analysis yielded additional sequences several specimens, including complete coding region one Nuthatch, which confirmed via sequencing. study demonstrates that present than Chickadee. While further investigation will be required explore whether there exists causal link virus AKD, geographically restricted rather occurs elsewhere North America.