Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 31, 2025

Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds: Use of a Portable rRT-PCR and Freeze-dried Reagents in the Field
Published on: August 2, 2011
RNA virome abundance and diversity is associated with host age in a bird species
Michelle Wille1, Mang Shi1, Aeron C Hurt2
1Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract:
Despite the ongoing interest in virus discovery, little is known about the factors that shape communities of viruses within individual hosts. Here, we address how virus communities might be impacted by the age of the hosts they infect, using total RNA sequencing to reveal the RNA viromes of different age groups of Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres). From oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs we identified 14 viruses likely infecting birds, 11 of which were novel, including members of the Reoviridae, Astroviridae, and Picornaviridae. Strikingly, 12 viruses identified were from juvenile birds sampled in the first year of their life, compared to only two viruses in adult birds. Both viral abundance and alpha diversity were marginally higher in juvenile than adult birds. As well as informing studies of virus ecology, that host age might be associated with viral composition is an important consideration for the future surveillance of novel and emerging viruses.
Related Concept Videos
Viral Mutations
Viruses of Archaea
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Viral Recombination
Retrovirus Life Cycles

