Evolutionary Analysis of a Parrot Bornavirus 2 Detected in a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo () Suggests a South American Ancestor

Parrot bornavirus (PaBV) is an RNA virus that causes Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD), neurological disorders, and death in . Its diversity in South America is poorly known. We examined a presenting neuropathies, PDD, and oculopathies as the main signs. We detected PaBV through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and partial sequencing of the nucleoprotein () and matrix () genes. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic inferences classified it as PaBV-2. The nucleotide identity of the sequenced strain ranged from 88.3% to 90.3% against genotype PaBV-2 and from 80.2% to 84.4% against other genotypes. Selective pressure analysis detected signs of episodic diversifying selection in both the and genes. No recombination events were detected. Phylodynamic analysis estimated the time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) as the year 1758 for genotype PaBV-2 and the year 1049 for the species. Substitution rates were estimated at 2.73 × 10 and 4.08 × 10 substitutions per year per site for and , respectively. The analysis of population dynamics showed a progressive decline in the effective population size during the last century. Timescale phylogeographic analysis revealed a potential South American ancestor as the origin of genotypes 1, 2, and 8. These results contribute to our knowledge of the evolutionary origin, diversity, and dynamics of PaBVs in South America and the world. Additionally, it highlights the importance of further studies in captive and the potential impact on endangered wild birds.