A novel morbillivirus and a novel betaherpesvirus infecting the Wood Mouse in the UK

Abstract

A novel morbillivirus and a novel betaherpesvirus are reported in the Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) in the western United Kingdom (UK). The two viruses were found coinfecting an underweight host with abnormalities of the liver and were detected via deep sequencing of lung RNA and de novo assembly of substantial genome fragments. The phylogenetic affinities of the novel viruses are characterised based on their relationships to existing database sequences.