Transcriptome mining of RNA viruses (familyTotiviridae) inEimeria necatrixandEimeria stiedai

Abstract

ABSTRACTCoccidian protozoa from the genusEimeriaare widespread parasites of vertebrates, causing serious disease (coccidiosis) and economic loss most notably in poultry. Several species ofEimeriaare themselves infected with small RNA viruses assigned to the familyTotiviridae. In this study, the sequences of two such viruses were newly determined, one of which represents the first complete protein-coding sequence of a virus fromE. necatrix, an important pathogen of chickens, and the other of which is fromE. stiedai, an important pathogen of rabbits. Sequence features of the newly identified viruses, compared with those of ones reported previously, provide several insights. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that these eimerian viruses constitute a well-demarcated clade, probably deserving of recognition as a distinct genus.