New Avian Hepadnavirus in Palaeognathous Bird, Germany

Abstract

In 2015, we identified an avian hepatitis B virus associated with hepatitis in a group of captive elegant-crested tinamous (Eudromia elegans) in Germany. The full-length genome of this virus shares <76% sequence identity with other avihepadnaviruses. The virus may therefore be considered a new extant avian hepadnavirus.

Keywords

• HBV
• hepatitis B virus
• avian hepadnavirus
• elegant-crested tinamou
• palaeognathae
• viruses