Whole-genome characterization and phylogenetic analysis of pigeon circovirus in racing pigeons from Heilongjiang, China

Pigeon circovirus (PiCV), a globally distributed pathogen, is associated with immunosuppression and high mortality in racing pigeons. Despite its endemicity in Chinese pigeon populations, molecular epidemiological data on PiCV in Northeast China remain scarce. This study reports the first complete genome sequence of PiCV isolated from racing pigeons in Heilongjiang Province. Through next-generation sequencing (NGS) for whole-genome assembly and systematic PCR-Sanger sequencing for validation, we obtained the complete 2,035-bp genome (designated HLJ2024). Homology analysis revealed nucleotide identities of 72.9–97.7% with other PiCV reference strains; notably, the cap (Capsid) protein of HLJ2024 exhibited a signature mutation (isoleucine [I]-leucine [L]) at residue 222 relative to its closest relative strain TF4/SN/2016, with predicted structural alterations proximal to this site. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain HLJ2024 forms an independent clade (GI) and is closely related to strains of clade GII (TF4/SN/2016, QD6/SN/2018). Recombination analysis suggested that HLJ2024 likely arose from recombination between two Chinese parental strains-GF17/GuangDong/2014 (major parent) and TY2/SN/2016 (minor parent). Our findings reveal active PiCV evolution in Northern China driven by point mutations and inter-regional recombination, providing critical insights into viral adaptability and transmission dynamics in Northeast China. These results provide a foundation for molecular epidemiology-based surveillance of PiCV in this understudied region and hold significant implications for developing targeted prevention strategies tailored to locally circulating strains.

• Publication year

  2026

• Venue

  Frontiers in Veterinary Science

• Publication date

  2026-01-05

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.3389/fvets.2025.1685178PMID 41560861PMCID 12812675
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Isolation, identification, whole genome sequence analysis, and pathogenicity of a potential recombinant goose parvovirus

  2025cited by this paper
• Epidemiology, genetic diversity and evolution of pigeon circovirus

  2025cited by this paper
• The pigeon circovirus evolution, epidemiology and interaction with the host immune system under One Loft Race rearing conditions

  2024cited by this paper
• Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of pigeon circovirus from racing pigeons in Northern China

  2022cited by this paper
• Isolation, identification, and pathogenicity of a goose astrovirus causing fatal gout in goslings.

  2022cited by this paper
• Maintenance and dissemination of avian-origin influenza A virus within the northern Atlantic Flyway of North America

  2022cited by this paper
• A human antibody of potent efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in rhesus macaques showed strong blocking activity to B.1.351

  2021cited by this paper
• Immune responses induced by a combined vaccination with a recombinant chimera of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens and capsid virus-like particles of porcine circovirus type 2

  2020cited by this paper
• Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of porcine circovirus type 3 in 21 Provinces of China during 2015–2017

  2019cited by this paper
• Bird Satellite Tracking Revealed Critical Protection Gaps in East Asian–Australasian Flyway

  2019cited by this paper
• Pigeon circoviruses from feral pigeons in Australia demonstrate extensive recombination and genetic admixture with other circoviruses

  2019cited by this paper
• Zoonotic Infection With Pigeon Paramyxovirus Type 1 Linked to Fatal Pneumonia

  2018cited by this paper
• Interactive tree of life (iTOL) v3: an online tool for the display and annotation of phylogenetic and other trees

  2016cited by this paper
• RDP4: Detection and analysis of recombination patterns in virus genomes

  2015cited by this paper
• IQ-TREE: A Fast and Effective Stochastic Algorithm for Estimating Maximum-Likelihood Phylogenies

  2014cited by this paper
• Porcine Circovirus 2 Uses Heparan Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate B Glycosaminoglycans as Receptors for Its Attachment to Host Cells

  2006cited by this paper
• A disease complex associated with pigeon circovirus infection, young pigeon disease syndrome

  2005cited by this paper
• A Modified Bootscan Algorithm for Automated Identification of Recombinant Sequences and Recombination Breakpoints

  2005cited by this paper
• Two Amino Acid Mutations in the Capsid Protein of Type 2 Porcine Circovirus (PCV2) Enhanced PCV2 Replication In Vitro and Attenuated the Virus In Vivo

  2004cited by this paper
• Pigeon circovirus infection: Pathological observations and suggested pathogenesis

  2001cited by this paper
• Evaluation of methods for detecting recombination from DNA sequences: Computer simulations

  2001cited by this paper
• Sister-Scanning: a Monte Carlo procedure for assessing signals in recombinant sequences

  2000cited by this paper
• Possible emergence of new geminiviruses by frequent recombination.

  1999cited by this paper
• Circovirus-Like Infection in a Pigeon

  1993cited by this paper
• Analyzing the mosaic structure of genes

  1992cited by this paper

• No citing papers are available for this paper.