Geology topics

Koray Ergunay

Publications and source records attributed to Koray Ergunay.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2026

Diverse novel and avian-associated viruses in the ileal viromes of northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Viruses are the most abundant and diverse organisms on Earth, though only a small portion cause disease. Understanding viral diversity is key to understanding and predicting pathogen emergence and zoonotic spillover. Here, we use meta-transcriptomic sequencing to examine the viral communities in the ileum of 25 Northern Mockingbirds ( Mimus polyglottos ) from various locations across Texas. We assembled high-quality genomes of 43 viral species (40 species identified to 13 families, one to kingdom, and two to realm), 38 of which were novel. They tentatively represent avian- (n = 3), arthropod- (n = 21), plant- (n = 5) and fungi- (n = 4) associated, or other (n = 10) viruses. The arthropod-associated Dicistroviridae family was the most dominant, comprising known and potentially new species. Of potential epidemiological importance were three novel and avian-associated viruses: members of the families Hepeviridae and Picornaviridae , and a new Matryoshka RNA virus. The Matryoshka RNA virus 8 (MaRNAV-8) is sister to other Matryoshka RNA viruses, and its co-occurrence with haemosporida further supports the nested virus-parasite-vector-vertebrate host relationship of this group of viruses, with potential implications for parasite evolution, fitness and load and vector competence. The Picornaviridae virus is a member of an avian hepatovirus clade, found nested within a clade containing both the mammalian pathogens Hepatovirus A – I and the avian Tremovirus pathogens, suggestive of a newly discovered pathogen of Northern Mockingbird. Although the recovered Hepeviridae virus is of unknown pathology, its family members include the Hepatitis E viruses. With the great diversity and novelty described from ileal viromes, discriminating potential pathogens and commensal microbiota from viruses associated with food items remains challenging. A deeper understanding of virus transmission and the risk of potential zoonosis can be enhanced by tracking viruses through the food web and via inter-specific and predator-prey interactions, particular in areas subject to land-use change, where human-wildlife interactions are increased and the risks from emerging pathogens of veterinary and medical importance are more pronounced.

Texas↗

USGS2026

Cotton farming affects ileal virome in a sedentary wild passerine

Although a few studies have focused on avian gut virome variation in response to environmental stressors, none have assessed virome in relation to the production of chemically intensive crop-based agriculture that alters food resources and detrimentally affects various aspects of avian health and fitness. In this study, we used shotgun metatranscriptomics to assess whether exposure to cotton ( Gossypium spp.) production had a deleterious effect on the ileal virome of sedentary northern mockingbirds ( Mimus polyglottos ) sampled from two cotton-producing areas (16 birds in total) and one uncultivated area (7 birds) in Texas, USA. We recovered 43 viruses representing 13 virus families, which included two viruses that appear to be potential vertebrate pathogens. Individual sample richness varied from 25 to 33 viruses. Both virome richness (Adj. r 2 = 0.247, F (2, 20) = 4.615, P = 0.022) and composition (r 2 = 0.370, F (2, 20) = 5.883, P = 0.001) differed among three sampling regions. Cotton production was associated with the increase of virome richness (Adj. r 2 = 0.283, df = 22, P = 0.005). Pesticide occurrence data collected using silicone bands at the three sites suggest that virome compositional changes are not only associated with total pesticide exposure but are also particularly sensitive to the pesticide combinations detected at each location.

Texas↗

USGS2024

Viral pathogen detection in U.S. game-farm mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) flags spillover risk to wild birds

The threat posed by emerging infectious diseases is a major concern for global public health, animal health and food security, and the role of birds in transmission is increasingly under scrutiny. Each year, millions of mass-reared game-farm birds are released into the wild, presenting a unique and a poorly understood risk to wild and susceptible bird populations, and to human health. In particular, the shedding of enteric pathogens through excrement into bodies of water at shared migratory stop-over sites, and breeding and wintering grounds, could facilitate multi-species long-distance pathogen dispersal and infection of high numbers of naive endemic birds annually. The Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ) is the most abundant of all duck species, migratory across much of its range, and an important game species for pen-rearing and release. Major recent population declines along the US Atlantic coast has been attributed to game-farm and wild mallard interbreeding and the introduction maladaptive traits into wild populations. However, pathogen transmission and zoonosis among game-farms Mallard may also impact these populations, as well as wildlife and human health. Here, we screened 16 game-farm Mallard from Wisconsin, United States, for enteric viral pathogens using metatranscriptomic data. Four families of viral pathogens were identified – Picobirnaviridae (Genogroup I), Caliciviridae (Duck Nacovirus ), Picornaviridae (Duck Aalivirus ) and Sedoreoviridae (Duck Rotavirus G). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Aalivirus in the Americas, and the first report of Calicivirus outside domestic chicken and turkey flocks in the United States. Our findings highlight the risk of viral pathogen spillover from peri-domestically reared game birds to naive wild bird populations.

Frontiers Earth Science Journal↗