Serpentovirus (Nidovirus) and Orthoreovirus Coinfection in Captive Veiled Chameleons (<em>Chamaeleo calyptratus</em>) with Respiratory Disease
Laura L. Hoon-Hanks,
Anke C. Stöhr,
Amanda J. Anderson,
Dawn E. Evans,
Javier G. Nevarez,
Raúl E. Díaz,
Case P. Rodgers,
Shaun T. Cross,
Halley R. Steiner,
Roy R. Parker,
Mark D. Stenglein
Affiliations
Laura L. Hoon-Hanks
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Anke C. Stöhr
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Amanda J. Anderson
Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Dawn E. Evans
Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Javier G. Nevarez
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Raúl E. Díaz
Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA
Case P. Rodgers
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Shaun T. Cross
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Halley R. Steiner
Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
Roy R. Parker
Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
Mark D. Stenglein
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Serpentoviruses are an emerging group of nidoviruses known to cause respiratory disease in snakes and have been associated with disease in other non-avian reptile species (lizards and turtles). This study describes multiple episodes of respiratory disease-associated mortalities in a collection of juvenile veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus). Histopathologic lesions included rhinitis and interstitial pneumonia with epithelial proliferation and abundant mucus. Metagenomic sequencing detected coinfection with two novel serpentoviruses and a novel orthoreovirus. Veiled chameleon serpentoviruses are most closely related to serpentoviruses identified in snakes, lizards, and turtles (approximately 40–50% nucleotide and amino acid identity of ORF1b). Veiled chameleon orthoreovirus is most closely related to reptilian orthoreoviruses identified in snakes (approximately 80–90% nucleotide and amino acid identity of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase). A high prevalence of serpentovirus infection (>80%) was found in clinically healthy subadult and adult veiled chameleons, suggesting the potential for chronic subclinical carriers. Juvenile veiled chameleons typically exhibited a more rapid progression compared to subadults and adults, indicating a possible age association with morbidity and mortality. This is the first description of a serpentovirus infection in any chameleon species. A causal relationship between serpentovirus infection and respiratory disease in chameleons is suspected. The significance of orthoreovirus coinfection remains unknown.
