Serpentoviruses are an emerging group of nidoviruses known to cause respiratory disease in snakes and have been associated with disease in other non-avian reptile species (lizards and turtles). This study describes multiple episodes of respiratory disease-associated mortalities in a collection of juvenile veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus). Histopathologic lesions included rhinitis and interstitial pneumonia with epithelial proliferation and abundant mucus. Metagenomic sequencing detected coinfection with two novel serpentoviruses and a novel orthoreovirus. Veiled chameleon serpentoviruses are most closely related to serpentoviruses identified in snakes, lizards, and turtles (approximately 40–50% nucleotide and amino acid identity of ORF1b). Veiled chameleon orthoreovirus is most closely related to reptilian orthoreoviruses identified in snakes (approximately 80–90% nucleotide and amino acid identity of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase). A high prevalence of serpentovirus infection (>80%) was found in clinically healthy subadult and adult veiled chameleons, suggesting the potential for chronic subclinical carriers. Juvenile veiled chameleons typically exhibited a more rapid progression compared to subadults and adults, indicating a possible age association with morbidity and mortality. This is the first description of a serpentovirus infection in any chameleon species. A causal relationship between serpentovirus infection and respiratory disease in chameleons is suspected. The significance of orthoreovirus coinfection remains unknown.

中文翻译：

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人工呼吸的变色龙变色龙（Chamaeleo calyptratus）中患有呼吸道疾病的蛇形病毒（Nidovirus）和正咽病毒共感染

蛇形病毒是一类新兴的尼多病毒，已知会引起蛇的呼吸道疾病，并与其他非禽类爬行动物（蜥蜴和乌龟）的疾病有关。这项研究描述了青少年蒙面变色龙（Chamaeleo calyptratus）集合中与呼吸道疾病相关的死亡的多发事件）。组织病理学病变包括鼻炎和间质性肺炎，上皮增生和粘液丰富。元基因组测序检测到两种新型蛇形病毒和一种新型正咽病毒的同时感染。面纱变色龙蛇形病毒与在蛇，蜥蜴和乌龟中鉴定出的蛇形病毒最密切相关（ORF1b的核苷酸和氨基酸约占40-50％）。面纱变色龙正支病毒与蛇中鉴定的爬虫类正支病毒最密切相关（RNA依赖性RNA聚合酶的核苷酸和氨基酸同一性约为80-90％）。在临床健康的亚成人和成年面纱的变色龙中发现了很高的蛇毒病毒感染率（> 80％），这表明可能成为慢性亚临床携带者。与亚成人和成年成年人相比，与青少年相比，面纱变色龙通常表现出更快的发展速度，这表明年龄可能与发病率和死亡率相关。这是任何变色龙物种中蛇形病毒感染的第一个描述。怀疑变色龙中蛇形病毒感染与呼吸系统疾病之间存在因果关系。正咽病毒共感染的重要性仍然未知。