Objective: To discover beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) genotypes in Australian parrots that might threaten vulnerable and endangered psittacine bird species.
Methods: Phylogenetic analyses of new DNA sequence data from Australian birds including the Rep gene (n = 55) and nine whole genomes, were compared with all available published BFDV genomes to assess host- and geographically-based divergence as well as probable host-switch events.
Results: Strong support for flexible host-switching and recombination was detected, indicating active cross-species transmission in various subpopulations.
Conclusion: The data suggested that all endangered Australian psittacine bird species are equally likely to be infected by BFDV genotypes from any other close or distantly related host reservoir species.
Keywords: birds; circovirus; host generalism; key threatening process; psittacine beak and feather disease; viral quasispecies; viral recombination.
© 2015 Australian Veterinary Association.