''Duck circovirus'' (DuCV) is a type of virus found in ducks. Strains of the virus have predominantly been found in China, though strains have also been isolated from ducks in Germany and the United States. ''Duck circovirus'' is a small nonenveloped virus with a monomeric single-stranded circular DNA genome. DuCV has been clustered in the ''

Circoviridae ''Circoviridae'' is a family of DNA viruses. Birds and mammals serve as natural hosts. There are 101 species in this family, assigned to 2 genera. Diseases associated with this family include: PCV-2: postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome; ...

'' family genus ''

Circovirus ''Circovirus'' is a genus of viruses, in the family ''Circoviridae''. Birds (such as pigeons and ducks) and pigs serve as natural hosts, though dogs have been shown to be infected as well. It is a single stranded DNA virus (ssDNA). There are 49 ...

'', according to the eighth report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.

Pathogenicity

Scientists have studied ''Duck circovirus'' by using

polymerase chain reaction The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method widely used to rapidly make millions to billions of copies (complete or partial) of a specific DNA sample, allowing scientists to take a very small sample of DNA and amplify it (or a part of it) ...

(PCR)-based methods and

dot blot A dot blot (or slot blot) is a technique in molecular biology used to detect proteins. It represents a simplification of the western blot method, with the exception that the proteins to be detected are not first separated by electrophoresis. Instea ...

hybridisation (DBH) tests. Infection with DuCV appears to cause growth disorders in ducks as well as eventual

immunosuppression Immunosuppression is a reduction of the activation or efficacy of the immune system. Some portions of the immune system itself have immunosuppressive effects on other parts of the immune system, and immunosuppression may occur as an adverse reacti ...

due to depletion of

lymph Lymph (from Latin, , meaning "water") is the fluid that flows through the lymphatic system, a system composed of lymph vessels (channels) and intervening lymph nodes whose function, like the venous system, is to return fluid from the tissues ...

atic cells.

Transmission

It was found that ducks between the ages of 40~60 days were more susceptible to ''Duck circovirus''. There was no evidence showing that the DuCV virus was capable of vertical transmission.

Clinical signs

The clinical signs are immunosuppression, stunting in growth, and also feather abnormalities.

Research

The PCR and dot blot hybridization (DBH) test was used in 2006–2007. 742 ducks from 70 duck farms were tested. The overall infection rate was 33.29%. Ducks at 3–4 weeks of age where more susceptible to DuCV virus.

Type of Ducks Affected

Anas platyrhynchos The mallard () or wild duck (''Anas platyrhynchos'') is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Arge ...

'', ''

Cairina moschata The Muscovy duck (''Cairina moschata'') is a large duck native to the Americas, from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Mexico south to Argentina and Uruguay. Small wild and feral breeding populations have established themselves in the United Sta ...

'', and the

American Pekin Duck The Pekin or White Pekin is an American breed of domestic duck, raised primarily for meat. It derives from birds brought to the United States from China in the nineteenth century, and is now bred in many parts of the world. It is often known as ...

are the ducks most affected by the DuCV virus. These ducks come from various regions of the world.

Prevention

A vaccine to provide protection against ''Duck circovirus'' has not been approved for use, though research to create one has occurred. Experimental

DNA vaccine A DNA vaccine is a type of vaccine that transfects a specific antigen-coding DNA sequence into the cells of an organism as a mechanism to induce an immune response. DNA vaccines work by injecting genetically engineered plasmid containing the ...

s encoding the DuCV capsid protein were found to provide protection ''in vivo'', as well as

inactivated vaccine An inactivated vaccine (or killed vaccine) is a vaccine consisting of virus particles, bacteria, or other pathogens that have been grown in culture and then killed to destroy disease-producing capacity. In contrast, live vaccines use pathogens ...

s that were tested on

Muscovy duck The Muscovy duck (''Cairina moschata'') is a large duck native to the Americas, from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Mexico south to Argentina and Uruguay. Small wild and feral breeding populations have established themselves in the United St ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18352741 Circoviridae Poultry diseases