Complete Genome Sequence of the First Canine Circovirus

We found a highly divergent circovirus in serum samples from several dogs. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that canine circovi-rus genotype 1 (CaCV-1) represents the first circovirus reported in dogs and is genetically most closely related to the only known mammalian circovirus, porcine circovirus. Here we report the complete genome sequence of the CaCV-1 strain NY214, which will help toward understanding the evolutionary and pathogenic characteristics of mammalian circoviruses. Circoviruses are genetically diverse nonenveloped viruses with asmall monomeric single-strand circular DNA genome and be-long to the familyCircoviridae, which comprises two genera,Circovi-rus and Gyrovirus (3). The genus Circovirus includes six recognized species that infect mammals and birds, namely, porcine circovirus 1 (8), porcine circovirus 2 (5), canary circovirus (9), goose circovirus (10), pigeon circovirus (10), and beak and feather disease virus (6). Several new circoviruses have been recently identified in animal feces and environmental samples; however the natural hosts of most of these viruses remain unidentified (2, 4, 7). Canine circovirus geno-type 1 (CaCV-1)was found in serum samples from several dogs (6 of 205 animals tested) and thus represents the first nonporcine circo