Epidemiological investigation and genomic characterization of Gyrovirus galga1 in Guangxi, China.

Abstract

Gyrovirus galga1 (GyG1), an emerging pathogen within the Anelloviridae family, exhibits expanding host diversity and zoonotic potential, yet its epidemiological patterns and genomic determinants remain poorly characterized. To address this critical knowledge gap, we conducted the first comprehensive molecular epidemiological investigation of GyG1 in Guangxi, China (2020-2025). The result revealed three key advances: (1) Molecular-epidemiological evidence of winter-spring seasonality and age-dependent transmission, with breeder chickens showing biphasic peaks (1-6 and > 21 weeks) contrasting broilers' progressive carriage; (2) Genomic characterization revealing VP1-VP3 as nuclear-localized hydrophilic proteins, identifying VP1 nuclear targeting as a therapeutic vulnerability; (3) Functional annotation of recombination-driven evolution, including a temporal paradox in strain KX708518's ancestry. This study elucidates GyG1's ecological dynamics in a high-density poultry region and provides critical data for One Health surveillance and vaccine development, addressing a key gap in gyrovirus countermeasures.