Genetic characterization of a densovirus isolated from great tit (Parus major) in China

• We isolated a novel densovirus (PmDNV-JL) from the lung of Parus majors in China.
• PmDNV-JL caused cytopathic effects (CPE) in Feline kidney cells.
• Five open reading frames (ORFs) were identified in the 5166 nt sequence for this densovirus.
• The predicted amino acid sequences of capsid (VP) and non-structural domain (NS1) of PmDNV-JL within the genus Densovirus.

During a study of ornithophilous viruses in China, a new densovirus (DNV) was isolated from the lung tissue of Parus major (PmDNV-JL). The complete genome of PmDNV-JL was cloned and sequenced. Five open reading frames (ORFs) were identified in the 5166 nt sequence, on the basis of deduced amino acids. It was further shown that this virus caused cytopathic effects (CPE) in Feline kidney cells. The NS1 gene sequence of PmDNV-JL shares 70–99% nucleotide sequence identity with isolates of the Blattella germanica densovirus (BgDNV) and BgDNV-like virus. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the predicted amino acid sequences of capsid (VP) and non-structural domain (NS1) of PmDNV-JL clustered with the BgDNV and were similar to BgDNV-HB within the genus Densovirus.