New Iflavirus identified in Chiroxiphia pareola birds from an ecotone area in northeast Brazil.

Avian species play a key role in the ecology of viruses, acting as reservoirs, sentinels, and biological carriers across diverse environments. Here, we describe the detection and genomic characterization of a novel iflavirus identified in fecal samples from the Chiroxiphiapareola("blue-backed manakin") collected in areas of the Middle North region of Brazil, Maranhão state. Viral RNA was extracted from pool fecal samples and subjected to next-generation sequencing. De novo assembly and comparative analyses enabled the recovery of a complete picorna-like viral genome of 9043 nucleotides, comprising a single open reading frame encoding a polyprotein of 2896 amino acids. Phylogenetic analyses based on the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain and the translated polyprotein consistently clustered the virus within the family Iflaviridae, forming a specific clade with reference sequences previously reported in arthropods. Functional domain analysis revealed conserved motifs characteristic of positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, including helicase superfamily 3 and RdRp domains. Although iflaviruses are classically associated with arthropod hosts, their detection in avian fecal samples is likely related to dietary intake, suggesting the presence of a transient virome rather than active infection. The sampling area is characterized by increasing environmental degradation, which may favor interactions between wildlife and anthropogenic environments, highlighting the importance of viral surveillance. This study reports, for the first time, the genome of an iflavirus detected in C. pareola, expanding current knowledge on iflavirus diversity and reinforcing the relevance of wildlife-based surveillance in ecologically altered regions under anthropogenic pressure.