Identification and characteristics of multiple viruses in snow leopard fecal samples using viral metagenomics

Metagenomic studies on the fecal virome of snow leopards, rare apex predators on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), remain limited. In this study, we utilized metagenomic sequencing to characterize the fecal viral community in captive QTP snow leopards. We assembled 22 complete viral genomes across the families Anelloviridae, Circoviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, Genomoviridae, and Smacoviridae. Phylogenetic analyses indicated substantial sequence novelty. We identified 9 anellovirus genomes in the genera Tettorquevirus and Etatorquevirus, 3 candidate novel parvoviruses in Bocaparvovirus, Chaphamaparvovirus, and Dependoparvovirus, 3 circovirus genomes representing 2 candidate novel species, and 1 candidate novel sakobuvirus species. Another kobuvirus genome represented a divergent strain of a known species. In addition, 4 divergent genomoviruses showed phylogenetic relationships with sequences reported from diverse animal and environmental sources. Notably, one candidate novel porprismacovirus (family Smacoviridae) displayed a marked discordance between its highly conserved replication-associated protein (96.7% amino acid identity), divergent capsid protein (maximum identity, 59.7%), and low whole-genome identity (63.6%). Recombination analysis suggested it might be a recombinant virus. In summary, this study expands current knowledge of the diversity and evolutionary characteristics of viruses detected in snow leopard fecal samples and provides baseline genomic data for future investigation of captive snow leopard viromes.