Full-length genome sequence of avain paramyxovirus type 4 isolated from a mallard duck.

Avian paramyxovirus (APMV) consists of nine serotypes, APMV-1 through -9, of which only APMV-1 and APMV-6 have been fully sequenced. Here, we present the complete 15,054 nt RNA genome of APMV-4 isolated from a mallard duck, which conformed to the "rule of six." The APMV-4 genome had six transcriptional units in the order 3'-NP-P/V-M-F-HN-L-5', which coded for the nucleocapsid (N), phospho- (P), matrix (M), fusion (F), hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), and large (L) proteins. Similar to APMV-1 but unlike APMV-6, APMV-4 lacked a small hydrophobic protein. The leader and trailer sequences were 55 and 17 nt in length, respectively, and the 12 nt-terminal regions of both ends of the APMV-4 genome were complementary. Using phylogenetic analysis, APMV-4 was classified as a member of the genus Avulavirus, and was more closely related to APMV-1 than to APMV-2 or APMV-6. These results may help establish the taxonomic position of Paramyxoviridae, Avulavirus members.