Molecular Phylogeny of an Avipoxvirus Isolated from Red-Flanked Blue Robin in China

We first report avipoxvirus (APV) infection and an isolate named APV/03/2016 from a red-flanked blue robin (Tarsiger cyanurus) captured at Songhua Lake Scenic Area in Jilin City (Jilin Province, China) on March 24, 2016. The partial sequence of the 4b core protein gene and DNA polymerase gene of APV/03/2016 suggests that the virus belongs to the subclade B1 cluster of clade B (canarypox virus). The BLAST results showed the highest similarity of the two genes with the Pacific shearwater-isolated strain SWPV-2 (KX857215), canarypox virus strain D98-11133 (GQ487567), canarypox virus strain ATCC VR-111 (AY318871), avipoxvirus Mississippi isolate P89 (KC018048), and avipoxvirus Wisconsin isolate P92 (KC018051). The results indicate that APV/03/2016 is a canarypox-like virus. These findings demonstrate the continuous emergence of new APV hosts such as red-flanked blue robins and suggest that monitoring of APV circulation and evolution should be strengthened for T. cyanurus conservation.