Identification and characteristics of multiple viruses in snow leopard fecal samples using viral metagenomics
- 1School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang , ,
- 2The Affiliated Zhenjiang Mental Health Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang , ,
Abstract
Metagenomic studies on the fecal virome of snow leopards, rare apex predators on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), remain limited. In this study, we utilized metagenomic sequencing to characterize the fecal viral community in captive QTP snow leopards. We assembled 22 complete viral genomes across the families Anelloviridae, Circoviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, Genomoviridae, and Smacoviridae. Phylogenetic analyses indicated substantial sequence novelty. We identified 9 anellovirus genomes in the genera Tettorquevirus and Etatorquevirus , 3 candidate novel parvoviruses in Bocaparvovirus , Chaphamaparvovirus , and Dependoparvovirus , 3 circovirus genomes representing 2 candidate novel species, and 1 candidate novel sakobuvirus species. Another kobuvirus genome represented a divergent strain of a known species. In addition, 4 divergent genomoviruses showed phylogenetic relationships with sequences reported from diverse animal and environmental sources. Notably, one candidate novel porprismacovirus (family Smacoviridae) displayed a marked discordance between its highly conserved replication-associated protein (96.7% amino acid identity), divergent capsid protein (maximum identity, 59.7%), and low whole-genome identity (63.6%). Recombination analysis suggested it might be a recombinant virus. In summary, this study expands current knowledge of the diversity and evolutionary characteristics of viruses detected in snow leopard fecal samples and provides baseline genomic data for future investigation of captive snow leopard viromes.
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BibTeX
@article{xue2026identification,
title = {{Identification and characteristics of multiple viruses in snow leopard fecal samples using viral metagenomics}},
author = {Yue Xue and Shiyu Cai and Li Ji and Likai Ji and Quan Shen and Xiaochun Wang and Ping Wu and Yuwei Liu and Yan Wang and Wen Zhang and Shixing Yang},
journal = {Frontiers in microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2026.1946718},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13662004},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Identification and characteristics of multiple viruses in snow leopard fecal samples using viral metagenomics
AU - Yue Xue
AU - Shiyu Cai
AU - Li Ji
AU - Likai Ji
AU - Quan Shen
AU - Xiaochun Wang
AU - Ping Wu
AU - Yuwei Liu
AU - Yan Wang
AU - Wen Zhang
AU - Shixing Yang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Frontiers in microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1946718
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13662004
AB - Metagenomic studies on the fecal virome of snow leopards, rare apex predators on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), remain limited. In this study, we utilized metagenomic sequencing to characterize the fecal viral community in captive QTP snow leopards. We assembled 22 complete viral genomes across the families Anelloviridae, Circoviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, Genomoviridae, and Smacoviridae. Phylogenetic analyses indicated substantial sequence novelty. We identified 9 anellovirus genomes in the genera Tettorquevirus and Etatorquevirus , 3 candidate novel parvoviruses in Bocaparvovirus , Chaphamaparvovirus , and Dependoparvovirus , 3 circovirus genomes representing 2 candidate novel species, and 1 candidate novel sakobuvirus species. Another kobuvirus genome represented a divergent strain of a known species. In addition, 4 divergent genomoviruses showed phylogenetic relationships with sequences reported from diverse animal and environmental sources. Notably, one candidate novel porprismacovirus (family Smacoviridae) displayed a marked discordance between its highly conserved replication-associated protein (96.7% amino acid identity), divergent capsid protein (maximum identity, 59.7%), and low whole-genome identity (63.6%). Recombination analysis suggested it might be a recombinant virus. In summary, this study expands current knowledge of the diversity and evolutionary characteristics of viruses detected in snow leopard fecal samples and provides baseline genomic data for future investigation of captive snow leopard viromes.
SN - 1664-302X
ER -