Circovirus is a genus of viruses, in the family Circoviridae. Birds (such as pigeons[1] and ducks[2]) and pigs[3] serve as natural hosts, though dogs have been shown to be infected as well.[4] It is a single stranded DNA virus (ssDNA). There are 49 species in this genus. Some members of this genus cause disease: PCV-1 is non pathogenic, while PCV-2 causes postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS).[5][6]
Viruses in Circovirus are non-enveloped, with icosahedral and round[clarification needed] geometries, and T=1 symmetry.[7] The diameter is around 17 nm. Genomes are circular and non-segmented.[5]
The virions of Circoviruses are surprisingly small, with diameters ranging from 17 up to 22 nm.[8]
Viral replication is nuclear. Entry into the host cell is achieved by penetration. Replication follows the ssDNA rolling circle model. DNA templated transcription, with some alternative splicing mechanism is the method of transcription. The virus exits the host cell by nuclear egress, and nuclear pore export. Birds and pigs serve as the natural host.[9][7] The virus is known to cause "immunosuppressive conditions" in animals that are infected; as well as having the ability to jump between species, creating difficulty in identifying the origin of infection.[7][10][11][12][13][14] Transmission routes are fecal-oral and parental.[5]
Circovirus has a monopartite, circular, and ssDNA genome of between 1759 and 2319nt, making it possibly the virus of shortest genome size in mammal viruses. The virus replicates through an dsDNA intermediate initiated by the Rep protein. Two major genes are transcribed from open reading frame (ORF) 1 and 2. ORF1 encodes Rep and Rep' for initiation of rolling-circle replication; ORF2 encodes Cap, the only structural and most immunogenic protein forming the viral capsid.[15]
^ abc"Circovirus". Viral Zone. ExPASy. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
^"Circovirus Family: Circoviridae". Virus Taxonomy: 2020 Release. International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). March 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
^Lorincz M, Cságola A, Biksi I, Szeredi L, Dán A, Tuboly T (June 2010). "Detection of porcine circovirus in rodents - short communication". Acta Veterinaria Hungarica. 58 (2): 265–268. doi:10.1556/avet.58.2010.2.12. PMID20460225.
^Pinheiro AL, Bulos LH, Onofre TS, de Paula Gabardo M, de Carvalho OV, Fausto MC, et al. (June 2013). "Verification of natural infection of peridomestic rodents by PCV2 on commercial swine farms". Research in Veterinary Science. 94 (3): 764–768. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2012.10.006. PMID23141170.
^Zhai SL, Chen SN, Liu W, Li XP, Deng SF, Wen XH, et al. (November 2016). "Molecular detection and genome characterization of porcine circovirus type 2 in rats captured on commercial swine farms". Archives of Virology. 161 (11): 3237–3244. doi:10.1007/s00705-016-3004-7. PMID27530112. S2CID254052514.
