A novel parvovirus isolated from Manchurian chipmunks

A novel parvovirus was identified in Manchurian chipmunks inhabiting Korea. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in sera from 4 animals am ong 62 apparently healthy chipmunks. Electron microscopic examination of th e HBsAg-positive sera revealed virus-like spherical particles 20-22 nm in d iameter. Extraction of nucleic acid under annealing conditions from the ser um samples containing virus-like particles yielded a single species of DNA molecule with the electrophoretic mobility of 5.6-kb double-stranded DNA. F our overlapping clones that encompassed almost the full-length viral genome , except both ends, were obtained. By sequencing these clones, we determine d the sequence of 5097 nucleotides of the viral DNA. Two open reading frame s were identified, with the left side open reading frame encoding a putativ e nonstructural protein and the right side open reading frame encoding a pu tative capsid protein. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences showed signi ficant homology to parvovirus B19 and simian parvovirus, but showed little homology to other mammalian autonomous parvoviruses or adeno-associated vir uses. These observations indicate that the virus isolated from Manchurian c hipmunks is a novel parvovirus and may be a potentially useful animal model of human B19 infection as a new member of the Erythrovirus genus of the Pa nvoviridae. (C) 1999 Academic Press.