A novel type of paramyxovirus found in Hungary in a masked water snake (Homalopsis buccata) with pneumonia supports the suggested new taxonomy within the Ferlavirus genus

Abstract

During the course of a longitudinal survey on the occurrence of viruses in Hungarian exotic reptile collections a dead masked water snake (Homalopsis buccata) was submitted for virologic examination in September 2009. Based on history, gross pathological and histopathological findings paramyxovirus infection was suspected and later confirmed by RT-PCR and sequencing of the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (L), the hemaggluitinin-neuraminidase (HN) and the unknown (U) genes. Sequence analyses revealed that the detected virus, HoBuc-HUN09, belongs to the recently described "group C" within the genus Ferlavirus. Our paper presents the first description of this novel reptilian paramyxovirus from a homalopsid snake with mucopurulent pneumonia in Hungary.