Novel torque teno viruses infecting raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes japonica).

Abstract

Complete genome sequences of four torque teno virus (TTV) (family Anelloviridae) isolates were obtained from the feces of two raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and two red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The ORF1 nucleotide sequences of these four viruses, named Raccoon dog_Fe_1, Raccoon dog_Fe_2, Fox_Fe_1, and Fox_Fe_2, were different from those of known TTVs but similar to those of TTVs derived from masked palm civet_Pl-TTV9-1 (59.8 %), masked palm civet_Pl-TTV3 (56.7%), masked palm civet_Pl-TTV9-2 (70.6 %), and crab-eating fox_LV23 strain (64.7 %), respectively, indicating that Raccoon dog_Fe_1, Raccoon dog_Fe_2, and Fox_Fe_2 represent new species. Phylogenetic analysis based on amino acid sequences of the ORF1 protein revealed that Fox_Fe_1 and Fox_Fe_2 clustered together with crab-eating fox_LV23 from Brazil and were distinct from viruses from domestic dogs. Furthermore, Raccoon dog_Fe_2 did not belong to any canine animal TTVs cluster. In contrast, Raccoon dog_Fe_1 clustered together with pampas fox_LV13, and these viruses were distant from other canid animal TTVs. Therefore, wild-canid TTVs formed several distinct clusters even at different geological locations such as Brazil and Japan.