Genomics insights reveal multi-year maintenance of a new #Deltacoronavirus infecting #Seabirds from Cagarras Island Archipelago Natural Monument, #Brazil
Abstract Previous studies have identified various pathogens in seabirds, notably coronaviruses (CoVs) and influenza A viruses (IAVs), due to their potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality . The Cagarras Island Archipelago Natural Monument , located near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , serves as nesting site for two species, the magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) and the brown booby (Sula leucogaster). Despite its ecological importance, no prior studies have investigated viral infections in these species, which share habitat interfaces with densely populated human areas . To address this gap, we sampled and tested seabirds for CoVs and IAVs from January 2022 to April 2024. Birds were captured and identified by species, age, and sex. Oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs , as well as blood samples , were collected. Viral RNA was extracted using the QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit, and the presence of IAVs was screened via real-time RT-PCR, while CoVs were screened using semi-nested...