Cyclovirus-Related DNA in Bovine Feces from Northern Portugal: Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Characterization.
- 1School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto (UP), 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
- 2Landesbetrieb Hessisches Landeslabor (LHL), Schubertstraße 60, Haus 13, 35392 Gießen, Germany.
- 3LAQV, REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4099-007 Porto, Portugal.
Abstract
Cycloviruses are circular Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses detected in a wide range of biological and environmental samples, although the natural hosts and biological significance of many members of the genus remain poorly understood. Information regarding their occurrence in cattle, particularly in fecal material, remains limited. In this study, 100 bovine fecal samples collected from 21 farms in northern Portugal were screened for circovirus- and cyclovirus-related DNA using a nested PCR assay targeting a conserved region of the replication-associated protein (rep) gene. Amplicons were characterized by bidirectional Sanger sequencing and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis. Cyclovirus-related DNA was detected in 14/100 samples, corresponding to a molecular occurrence of 14.0% (cluster-bootstrap 95% CI: 5.6-26.5%), with positive animals originating from 7/21 farms. The obtained partial rep sequences showed 94.8-100% nucleotide identity with Crocidura russula feces-associated Cyclovirus MAVG5 (PQ576920), and five sequences were identical to the corresponding homologous region. Phylogenetic analysis grouped all bovine-derived sequences with MAVG5 within a broader lineage containing Human-associated Cyclovirus 6. In an exploratory GEE analysis accounting for within-farm clustering, no statistically significant association was observed between cyclovirus detection and diarrhea (GEE: OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.31-1.86; p = 0.549). These findings expand current knowledge of Cyclovirus-related DNA in livestock-associated fecal material and indicate the occurrence of closely related Cyclovirus sequences in distinct mammalian-associated matrices within the Iberian Peninsula. However, detection in feces alone does not establish cattle as the biological host or demonstrate active infection. Complete-genome characterization and broader host and environmental surveillance are required to clarify the taxonomy, host range, and ecological significance of these viruses.
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BibTeX
@article{figueiredo2026cyclovirusrelated,
title = {{Cyclovirus-Related DNA in Bovine Feces from Northern Portugal: Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Characterization.}},
author = {Ricardo J Figueiredo and Sara Gomes-Gonçalves and Guilherme Moreira and Kimberly Huettich and Salome Klaus and Maja Corley and Katharina Prusa and Beatriz Oliveira Alcobia and João R Mesquita},
journal = {Microorganisms},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms14102374},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42943612},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cyclovirus-Related DNA in Bovine Feces from Northern Portugal: Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Characterization.
AU - Ricardo J Figueiredo
AU - Sara Gomes-Gonçalves
AU - Guilherme Moreira
AU - Kimberly Huettich
AU - Salome Klaus
AU - Maja Corley
AU - Katharina Prusa
AU - Beatriz Oliveira Alcobia
AU - João R Mesquita
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Microorganisms
DO - 10.3390/microorganisms14102374
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42943612
AB - Cycloviruses are circular Rep-encoding single-stranded DNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses detected in a wide range of biological and environmental samples, although the natural hosts and biological significance of many members of the genus remain poorly understood. Information regarding their occurrence in cattle, particularly in fecal material, remains limited. In this study, 100 bovine fecal samples collected from 21 farms in northern Portugal were screened for circovirus- and cyclovirus-related DNA using a nested PCR assay targeting a conserved region of the replication-associated protein (rep) gene. Amplicons were characterized by bidirectional Sanger sequencing and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis. Cyclovirus-related DNA was detected in 14/100 samples, corresponding to a molecular occurrence of 14.0% (cluster-bootstrap 95% CI: 5.6-26.5%), with positive animals originating from 7/21 farms. The obtained partial rep sequences showed 94.8-100% nucleotide identity with Crocidura russula feces-associated Cyclovirus MAVG5 (PQ576920), and five sequences were identical to the corresponding homologous region. Phylogenetic analysis grouped all bovine-derived sequences with MAVG5 within a broader lineage containing Human-associated Cyclovirus 6. In an exploratory GEE analysis accounting for within-farm clustering, no statistically significant association was observed between cyclovirus detection and diarrhea (GEE: OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.31-1.86; p = 0.549). These findings expand current knowledge of Cyclovirus-related DNA in livestock-associated fecal material and indicate the occurrence of closely related Cyclovirus sequences in distinct mammalian-associated matrices within the Iberian Peninsula. However, detection in feces alone does not establish cattle as the biological host or demonstrate active infection. Complete-genome characterization and broader host and environmental surveillance are required to clarify the taxonomy, host range, and ecological significance of these viruses.
SN - 2076-2607
ER -